My girl has completed her first actual job!

I felt compelled to sit down and write these words to document one of my best life experiences ever. Reem is my 15-years old daughter, who is going to be a sophomore at Watertown High School. And I am just a father who feels so proud to see his girl going out and experiencing the real world at this young age. For many, specially those born and raised in the US, it might seem ordinary, but for me it is a big deal! I come from a place, where work at this young age is not particularly encouraged, and is only culturally acceptable for the needy. An average Egyptian family invests a big chunk of its income on educating its kids, who should focus on their school, and summer time is usually reserved for leisure as a reward for their uninterrupted attention during the school year. Kids usually enjoy this protected bubble until they graduate from college, the time when they are expected to go out and leave their nest.

Things are done differently here in the US, which is a home-by-choice for me and my family. Kids leave their nests much earlier; they are expected to work during summer while at high school to save for their college tuition and get a feel of how real life looks like. This is actually something that is culturally encouraged, not only by middle-class families, but also by the first family itself!

So, here is the story. Randa (Reem's mom) woke up one day and saw this Facebook post:

She showed it to me, and we both felt that this internship would be an excellent opportunity for Reem. Putting the money aside, which is very good by the way, she is going to have work experience on her CV and potentially explore a career path that she was contemplating. We encouraged her to apply for the internship and see if she could be accepted as a summer intern in a local veterinary clinic, where she get a first-hand experience of how an actual day of a veterinarian at work looks like. Her mom drove her around Watertown clinics, until she was finally accepted by one of them. She then had to write an essay to the Watertown Community Foundation to explain why this opportunity could make a difference for her. Here is what she wrote:

Chance to Help Beautiful Creatures

Reem Hussein

"My biggest wish in the world is to leave a positive footprint. Something that will always be remembered, even if it’s just a small impact. I’d love to do this by helping out animals. For as long as I can remember, animals have always put a smile on my face and given me the feeling of pure happiness. My heart goes out to all the strays that are in desperate need of some love. I wish to do everything in my power to get them the help and care they need. However, something as big as this needs to start somewhere. That is why volunteering at this animal hospital is the perfect first step for me.

As a future career, I’m considering becoming a veterinarian. It’s something I’d be interested in and enjoy very much. Going to this clinic would be a really great experience to get a feel for how everything works. It’s a big dream of mine to get to help animals everyday I can. Even just the thought of waking up to wagging tails and furry balls of fun gets me so excited. Having the opportunity to explore the wonders of these beautiful creatures would make my entire life complete.

I’ve always been told to take the extra step or try a little harder than what is expected, and for me this is my extra step to success. As much as I’ll try to help these animals, even if it just means cleaning after them, they surprisingly help me too. It gets me out of this bubble that we all tend to live in and forces me to try new things. Which is how I want to live my life. This internship will get me going on what I love the most and be a great way to spend my time usefully. I pray that I can make a difference from the small steps I’m taking to achieve my goals. It’s not just about me though, it’s about those who I may have the chance to help with this internship experience."

And after few weeks of waiting, she received this lovely email:

Woohoo!
And the fun starts!

That was the best "OMG" I have ever received in an SMS :)

And that was her light-humored mom practicing her cultural heritage and suggesting some Molokheyia to celebrate the bunny :)

That was her last day at the clinic with her colleagues:

Experiences like this make me feel that all the hoops I had to go through during my trip from Egypt to the US was definitely worth it. Among many dreams I have for a better education in Egypt, if there is one experience I would love high schoolers to have, it would be summer internships. Thanks, Watertown Community Foundation!