Dear Tayebis,
Consider this a thank you letter. Thank you for molding me over the years into the individual that I am. Thanks for pushing my limits and setting the bar to a height that would separate me from the rest of the pack. I never quite understood your “tough love”, and my frustrations may have manifested at times, but it was only through time that I realized that those critiques were coated deeply in layers of love and care.
I’ve seen how tough the real world is, and I’m still learning.
It’s led me to my next milestone. I’m off to a country far different from my own with a culture and language far different from what I know. Whom I encounter on this journey I will leave to the wind along with the aroma of paella and chorizos. Amongst other things, I’m here to make you proud. All of those grueling hours spent in the infamous ‘Tayebi Tough Love’ facility, shall finally come to fruition. But what comforts me most is knowing that you have my back. You may not hear much of me during my highs and maybe too much of me during my lows. I apologize in advance for that. But just know that what you’ve done for me has never gone unnoticed, and I appreciate you all now more than ever.
I am confident knowing that each and every one of you hold a piece of me that made me who I am and who I am yet to be. Whether it’s a decision we make together, or a decision I make on my own, the village is what I count on. The village is what I will always come back to.
So thank you Tayebis, for loving me unconditional, bullying me occasionally, and believing in me…even when I make it hard. You guys truly are the best family I could ask for. Family over everything.
With all my heart,
-Anana