Merely a teenager, Rebecca already had family to nurture in a city far from her rural village Mashhad. Married at an early age, she had to forgo her high school diploma to move to Abadan, Iran where her husband pursued a career in engineering. Alone in a secluded suburb, she fought for a traditional, Jewish household down to the last piece of kosher meat she scavenged in a predominantly Muslim area. When the opportunity to immigrate surfaced, she gathered her family, some clothing, and the traditional Persian tea set she received for her wedding and never looked back. Landing in New York, she radiated comfort knowing she could be surrounded by family again. Settling in Great Neck, she established a comfortable life; however, she still sensed a gaping hole in her accomplishments. When the opportunity arose to continue her education, she laughed in disbelief. After careful consideration, however, she decided to take a placement exam for night classes. Shocked with the level of difficulty she encountered, she channeled her energy to pursue proficiency in a second language. After demonstrating rapid improvement, her teachers posed the GED exam to finally fill that gaping hole. Torn between her family and her education, she was reluctant to complete her journey. Reminiscing on the sacrifices she made in Iran, she realized that she no longer needed to put herself last. New York was a chance to reinvent herself: Rebecca Nabavian, the modern, Iranian-Jewish woman.
 

– Lauren

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant