Growing up in San Francisco to immigrant parents who were forced to flee the repressive regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the late 70s and who didn’t really assimilate too well into American culture in many ways, I had a vague notion that we had a survival attitude of getting by in a culture we never quite fit into. Nevertheless, we tried.
Having an inordinate amount of anxiety as a young child beginning with elementary school way out of my depth, and finally moving on from the first few bumpy years at the Moraga Campus, entering 4th grade at the Sloat Blvd. campus began a wonderful experience filled with academic and personal growth, learning invaluable lessons along the way, developing numerous and varied skills, and lifelong personal friendships that continue to this day, thanks in large part, to the unexpected gift of social media keeping us connected as if time never passed, allowing us to catch up on old relations and friendships, a progressive development the extent of which none of us could have fathomed back during our school days.
Attending school at West Portal Lutheran gave me a sense of purpose and helped me feel connected to a greater community and fostered so much growth in countless ways, for which I am forever grateful. My parents, not Christian or religious, nonetheless were
happy to have me attend and embrace all that WPL had to offer. Though we were not
members of the church, I learned virtues, grew through some hard life lessons,
developed a respect for Faith, a love for humanity, and even felt school was a refuge at times from dealing with sometimes difficult moments at home. I carried with me the abiding sense of spirituality, strong ethics, loving atmosphere, respect and love for all that WPL instilled in me through every experience in my life. My favorite memories are the cherished Christmas programs, playing bells in 2nd grade and singing some very beautiful songs, Wednesday morning chapel time, being assigned to help with the kindergarteners our last year of school and feeling delighted and grown up with that honored responsibility, my most adored and empowering German classes with the wonderful Herr Jacob, discovering a hidden love and talent for foreign languages, and all the friendships and connections lasting me through today.
Graduating 8th grade in 1991 having grown so much during my 5 years spanning 4th-8th grades, attending an educational trip of a lifetime to Washington DC with our teachers
Mr. Holt and Mr. Moore, and being granted a generous honor from WPL as Most All Around 8th Grade Girl, I was sad and a little nervous to leave.
I went on to attend high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, where I earned The Fox Memorial Religion Award for my understanding that the essence of religion is to put that faith into practice and provide service to humanity, leaving the world a better place by our example; then I went on to attend UCDavis for my undergraduate degree in International Relations with double minors in Spanish and Russian languages. After that came a year off to work in a law firm while applying for and waiting responses to law schools and I attended USF School of Law from 2000-2003. After that, while awaiting a real job and taking the California Bar Exam, to become an actual licensed attorney, I interned for the wonderful Magistrate Judge Maria Elena James temporarily, and then she introduced me to her friend and fellow colleague, State Court Judge Anne Bouliane. An internship with her led to an opportune job offer as a Temporary Staff Attorney with the state trial courts in early 2004 when another attorney was out on maternity leave. When she returned, there was an opening which led to a permanent job offer as a staff attorney in late 2004. I stayed on for another year before getting married in January 2006 and moving to Southern California. I have two daughters, ages 15 & 11, and I continue to use my legal skills in my husband’s medical neurology practice as needed.
Mr. Holt, my 7th and 8th Grade teacher who I’m blessed to still be in touch with, attended my wedding with his wife 2006. That was a dear moment for me. I continue to keep in periodic touch with Ms. Elaine Mills, my 5th Grade teacher. My time at WPL was truly a special one, one that entailed growing along with our teachers, and the WPL community at large. The years we spent there as students brought with it a menagerie of special occasions we witnessed, including births, weddings, and some sad moments serving as teachable moments & moments of growth like seeing firsthand illnesses and tragedies, but mainly many happy moments, and lots of beautiful memories, giving us a well-rounded real-life perspective in a critical growth stage of our lives. I am forever grateful for my time at WPL and the memories I will always hold dear. It freed me to realize and embrace my respect for spirituality, my love of world religions, how we are all connected, and how no cultural difference can separate that unity.
Comments