Start With Why. by Benjamin

Start With Why. by Benjamin - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

Bang! A thunderous gunshot is followed by an abrupt intrusion. A dozen startled gazes at the dining room table shift their focus to the front door. A soldier walks towards a woman in the kitchen and rips the sacred cross from her neck as she tries to run up the stairs. The other soldiers chant, "Allahu Akbar," and demand the entire family to denounce their Christian faith, as rifles are aimed at the children. Among them, frozen in terror, was a son—my father. As an Assyrian immigrant who escaped the reign of Saddam Hussein, he values higher education and taking advantage of every opportunity. My father preaches the act of understanding others to better understand yourself. As a first generation Assyrian, I embrace my ancestors struggle and strive to extend the legacy paved by my father.
Hearing my father's stories, I internalized a singular message: pave your own path. This influenced childhood staples like Lego building—I ditched the instructions to let my imagination lead. In retrospect, this stubbornness foreshadowed my entrepreneurial spirit. In seventh grade, I pitched my first business plan to borrow my uncle's food truck for a summer festival. With a $150 investment, my brother and I sold my signature kabobs, netting $275 in one day. My father's only response: 'When’s the next festival?' The sly acknowledgment was a crash course in real-world expectations. Gazing into my father's eyes, which carry a quiet pride, I've come to understand his intent. The stern demeanor is his way of preparing me for the harsh realities to come—a world that is unforgiving.
At ten years old, Patriarch Dinkha, from the Assyrian Catholic Church of the East, paid a visit to my home. For context, he is equivalent to the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Dinkha is passionate about higher education and travels the world to encourage the Assyrian youth. During one of his tours, several members of the Assyrian community informed him of my academic rigor which was passed around by word of mouth. Before Dinkha left our home, he pulled me aside for some advice and ultimately inspired me to pursue an Ivy League education. About a week later, I fondly remember walking into my family room and stumbling upon my father watching Good Will Hunting. This was an important moment because it provided a visual element for the Ivy League education portrayed by Dinkha. Since Dinkha passed away, I will collaborate with local patriarchs to create a campaign centered around this full circle moment and amplify Dinkha’s message regarding the importance of higher education. Part of the ministry will entail visiting Assyrian churches to share my journey and inspire children globally. I believe my Harvard education will create a ripple effect that impacts the next generation of Assyrians.
As of today, there are ~300,000 Assyrians around the world. Since the Assyrian population is on the brink of extinction, my decisions hold a tremendous impact on my community. I’ve experienced the highs of financial security and lows of financial uncertainty. This dichotomy of lifestyles has given me the opportunity to rub shoulders with a variety of individuals. One day I boarded Ted’s private jet to Marco Island and another day I was standing with Derek in the free lunch line at school. Throughout my childhood, I noticed my Assyrian community lacked capable leaders that push the envelope and inspire the youth. I’m aiming to collaborate with minority students at Harvard to address similar obstacles holding back their communities from evolving. In short, among other things, while in college, I want to foster an organization at Harvard that encourages minority students to collaborate on creative efforts to promote the value of higher education to the youth in their communities.