More Than Just Translating by Rahel

More Than Just Translating by Rahel - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

Growing up I had to help my parents with a lot of things, whether that was translating for them or helping around with my siblings. Both my parents were not born in Germany, they were born in Iraq, and that made them not really understand German fully, my parents knew how to communicate on a level but not with everything. I remember one time my dad had told me to translate a voice message from his coworker at his work group chat, and at that moment my view of people had changed, the coworker had said” im going to do a voice message so everyone who doesn't know how to read especially George …”, in a mocking voice. I was speechless, I didn't believe how people can be so rude to someone who had changed their country forcefully because they wanted to live in peace and not in war. I was standing there with my dad, waiting for me to translate the message. I didn't know what to do should I tell him and make him feel sad and angry with himself or should I just not tell him what his coworker had said.I decided to just ignore it because I believe people like that just want attention from others and be middle point of everything, but something had changed in me that moment I knew being always nice and helpful doesn't bring you much I knew I had to show that coworker otherwise, I needed to show him that my dad had success in raising me, so just ignored him. Ever since that I have tried my best ignoring anyone who mocks me or my family. I don't care about people's opinions anymore. I know myself and I know what I'm capable of. After feeling heartbroken for my dad because I knew that wasn't the only time he was mocked for his knowledge, I know that the future will be the opposite and I will become successful and help my parents prove everyone wrong in their beliefs towards us.