MR Phs

I believe that the obstacles I have overcome have left me determined and motivated to
help others. I have developed an immense concern for broad issues concerned with human health
and global well-being and have completed worked as an intern for two environmental advocacy
nonprofits. Seeing the helplessness that many communities feel when faced with overwhelming
environmental health problems motivates me to learn more about the complexity of the
surrounding issues. I am amazed at the achievements I have made given my own tenuous start in
life and know that further education will allow me to help others in substantive and profound
ways.
I was born and raised in Marin County by my mother, a single parent, separated from
my father, who was Iranian, and who later passed on. My mother restricted communications with
my father’s side of the family as she did not understand their traditional attitude towards women
and wanted me to grow up with the freedoms of an American child. Unfortunately, my mother
had trouble supporting us and for two years we were homeless until she disappeared altogether
and CPS placed me in foster care. For some youth, this can be traumatic, but in my case, I
thrived, graduating from high school early with straight As, while also working a part-time job. I
received college scholarships from the John Burton Foundation, the Momeni Foundation, and
Oracle Independent Study and enrolled in community college with the support of my foster
family. After graduating from the College of Marin with a degree in Natural Sciences, I went on
to major in Society and the Environment at UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources, where I
was a part of the Honors Program, independently wrote a thesis and received the Society and
Environment Citation Award. I have excelled in my academic studies in high school and college,
yet throughout my upbringing, I was always discouraged from taking standardized tests because
of the alternative beliefs of my schools and foster family. As a result, my grades are a better
reflection of my interests and abilities than my GRE scores .
After finishing my undergraduate studies, I became interested in building a connection
with my Iranian family and heritage although I can remember being confused on those rare
occasions when I spoke with them. Their expressions of love were always tempered with
admonishments to act properly, stop questioning what men and my elders say, and wear
conservative garments. Yet the pull of family is deep, and in May of 2014, I traveled to Shiraz
and Tehran to meet my uncle, aunt, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew where I learned about my
family history. I visited the cultural and historical sites of Persepolis and the Vakil Bazaar, and
experienced Iranian views, customs, and culture, getting an eye-opening experience on the
Middle East seen by few Americans. The trip broadened my view of the world, brought some
needed closure to questions I’ve had about my family, and gave me a deep appreciation of my
rights as a citizen of the United States and as a woman currently living in this country. Now, I am
determined to continue pursuing an education in an environment where I am expected to ask
questions and think critically.
As a homeless child with an unreliable mother, I felt helpless, vulnerable and
defenseless, and I have felt those same emotions in the communities in which I have interned as
an environmental advocate. As a child, I had no resources that would help me have control over
my situation. Similarly, many communities do not have the necessary resources to defend against
the chemicals they are being exposed to and that are impacting their health. These communities
often lack the knowledge needed to recognize the factors impacting their health, the money
necessary to move away from polluted areas, the education needed to venture into occupations
with less chemical exposure, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to change the
environmental health policies that impact their lives. My own experiences and research have left
me motivated and determined to gain the education I need to help protect and restore
environmental and human health.

MR Phs

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I believe that the obstacles I have overcome have left me determined and motivated to

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