Graduating from high school is one of the biggest achievements in most people’s lives. The hard work and effort all seem to pay off when you receive your diploma. It’s been over 10 years and aside from the pictures and diploma, the one memento I’ve kept is a book given to me by my older brother. My brother and I never really got along. It wasn’t until my early years in high school where our bond started to grow. Becoming a father at 16 forced him into early adulthood. Thus, his inspiration for sharing something meaningful arose.

After graduation, before I could celebrate, my brother handed me Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”. I was a bit confused upon receiving this gift, but everything made sense after reading it for the first time. For most, graduation is the end of your childhood and the beginning of your chapter as an adult. This book helps you see life as a journey of different views and experiences. This became more apparent during my time in the Navy. I’ve been able to see many different countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, experiencing firsthand the meaning of this book. 

Now I look at an 8x11 inch book with rough corners and realize what impact it really had on me. Both my brother and I hope to pass this message to the next generation. When the time comes, they will get to see the beauty of the places they will go. 

– DRB

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant