My father is a world champion in karate. He immigrated to the US to pursue his career as a karate instructor. Ever since I was 3, he’s been teaching me karate. Now, it’s 2017 and I’m 15 years old, which means I’ve been practicing for 12 years with him. I’ve been competing ever since I was 4 and my first biggest tournament was in 2007 when I competed in the national championships. Although I competed in many local tournaments, none were like my experience at nationals. Recently, I competed in the national championships again and placed bronze in the national championships. My father has been preparing me for months so I was ready for the tournament. If my father hadn’t moved to the united states, then I wouldn’t be a national champion. Now, the AAU karate federation has invited me to represent all 15 year old girls in the U.S. at the 7th WUKF world karate championships in Scotland. I’ll also be the first muslim girl in the United States to represent the U.S. in an official world championship. I’m now following in my father’s footsteps. I’m very grateful my father immigrated to the united states because I’m a very successful teenager at the age of 15. I hope I get many other opportunities to compete in more world championships. In the future, I will try to get a sports scholarship for college. These 3 objects symbolize the marks I left in a karate.
 

– Aprar Hassan

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant