I Come From Poem Collection

Thursday, March 9, 2023 5 - 7 p.m.

Rafik B. Hariri Building Georgetown University Sponsored by Georgetown McDonough and the Office of Alumni Relations

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OUR JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY Our “story” determines so much of who we are, what we value, and how we view both success and failure. It frequently requires us to take an honest look at the complex themes and experiences that shape our lives. This is why I ask my MBA students to write a poem with the prompt: ‘I COME FROM…’ By sharing our unique (often raw) journeys with our peers, we find emotional distance to see more clearly the path forward. As Marcel Proust observed, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

I am grateful to Stephanie, who led the efforts in collecting these poems and presenting them as a way to encourage others to dare to look within and embark on a similar journey of discovery.

Carpe Diem, Professor Holladay THE POWER OF POETRY Ten years ago, the McDonough School of Business appointed Ambassador Holladay as the first Heinz Christian Prechter Executive in Residence. It is an honor to celebrate the work of Doug’s class over the past decade and do so in the form of the ‘I COME FROM’ poems.

Over the years, I visited with Doug’s classes to better understand his curriculum around meaning and contribution towards a bigger why. Time and again, the students’ poems transported me into a slice of their lives. I could see common themes such as sacrifice and devotion, gratitude and ambition, grief and love.

It is clear to me that the power of these poems is rooted in the threads that unite us. Thank you to everyone involved with these efforts, most especially our poets.

Hoya Saxa, Stephanie Prechter (B’03)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Aashima Gupta

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A.W. Clements

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Annabelle Chang

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Anonymous

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Chris Shearer

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Jake Kornack

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Justin Koh

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Michael M.

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Providence Kruger

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Ramana Viswanadha

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Rebecca

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Rio Dennis

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Stephen Ahn

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Sumedha Mohan

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Tom Kennedy

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Zainab Imam

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MY INDIAN IMMIGRANT STORY I come from two Indian immigrant parents Who came to America with little money but lots of ambition A dad who worked fast food And a mom who worked retail while going to school They worked non-stop Odds stacked against them In search of a better life Alas, their efforts paid off They managed to find their way in the great America I come from two inherent caretakers Who raised my siblings and me They gave us the life they could not have for so long Selfless and caring They never let our dreams dim I come from two parents who love to work I swear they never tire They caretake for my grandparents They own a business They even have a puppy They inspire I come from a place of privilege To be handed many things that they were not To have a family here to support me And to love me non-stop — Aashima Gupta

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THE PEOPLE IN THE PEWS I come from my funeral to share this aloud.

Such a joyous morning and a reverent crowd!

The church pews were speckled with mourners in black.

Some sat in the front, some stood in the back.

First Rob rose to speak as the oldest brother should, and told tales of growing up in our little neighborhood.

George, next, with a tear, spoke of Mom and Dad and the glorious reunion he well knew we had.

Then Tom told the story of chipping my tooth, and more friends came up front with more stories from our youth.

One thing, though, was clear, as I laid there alone: no scores were re-settled, no stones were re-thrown.

No deals were re-worked, no stocks were re-bought, no pitches re-pitched, no value re-sought.

I come from my funeral to bring you the news.

It’s the people who matter – it’s who sits in those pews.

— A.W. Clements

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I come from a loving family, raised by parents who taught love, kindness & patience.

Yet I was still afraid of the world that seemed to swirl, and never go as planned.

At the age of ten, my fear had come true.

I was in Australia by myself.

My family was walking in the wilderness.

The world we had known had turned upside down.

But when I felt like I had no hope, no strength to do anything on my own, I finally turned to my creator and began to pray.

God was there all along, but it wasn’t until I acknowledged the darkness that I could properly see the light.

My life had to be broken to be made whole.

I had to be emptied to be filled with what truly mattered.

In my weakness, I was made strong.

One step at a time.

One step led to another.

One door opened up another.

The world continues to swirl, but with gratefulness and by His grace, I will make it to the end thriving and striving to make the most of each given day, humbled by my shortfalls and mistakes to take part in His beautiful tapestry.

— Annabelle Chang

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I come from a place Where everything seemed ok A roof over my head And food in my plate But one thing was off With how we discussed My dad was the law And I couldn’t speak up I couldn’t answer back When he would get mad It burned deep inside But I had to abide I am now afraid of opposing Opinions I don’t agree with I get stressed and anxious It is clear I never learned how to handle it I do realize, That no child comes with a guide, Parents to their best And sometimes they just have to guess Now that I understand why I don’t like to refute The responsibility is on my end To learn how to break through I come from a place Imperfect and flawed But the most important thing is That I was extremely loved — Anonymous

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I come from love turned wrong side out Alone amid a sea of kin Ears filled with a jungle of words Thoughts refuse form I cannot see truth I do not know the feel of joy I wander amid clouds of indifference Thunder only a storm away As a glimmer a hand reaches through fog Leading me to open skies of light Eyes blink to a clear reflection Ears hear the stillness My mind awakes To understand the wrong but find the honorable Loved turned right ways out I am no more what I come from — Chris Shearer

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I AM FROM A PALE BLUE DOT I come from a pale blue dot Despite space’s vastness Earth’s all we’ve got After 13 billion years of upheaval Humanity arrived on the scene As we evolved into ever more complex proteins Blessed with foresight And theory of mind We continually jeopardize The future of humankind As the world warms Business carries on as usual Chasing profits at all costs Has become quite delusional A time of partisanship and growing distrust As evidence-based discussions Begin to gather dust In a race against time Fossil fuels pollute the air As climate’s flame flickers Producing a flooding and fiery nightmare To build a stable world For a future generation I humbly submit My own application While ecological harmony May seem like a longshot We can rally together To save this pale blue dot — Jake Kornack

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I come from a history of sacrifice, Escaping from war to start a new life.

This process was not easy, I come from a single mother, who raised me.

I come from pain of losing someone I didn’t know A father taken before I could grow Doubt and questions of what life could be If only he was there to help raise me I come from a fight for survival.

To make it this far is just incredible To dutifully follow is what I was told.

Don’t question and listen soon grew old.

I come from a desire for understanding But this connection just seemed too demanding I see not everything can be complete, However, I hope one day to repeat.

For now, I choose a path of my own.

I choose to take control To learn the depths within my soul, On this journey I look to be, A man, finding purpose fit for me.

I choose to learn, to share, to give, Beyond the basics we need to live.

I look within to be vulnerable, I’m looking for ways to grow.

I choose a path that is still unseen, I just know now, I’m doing it for me.

— Justin Koh

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BREAKING FREE I come from an immigrant mother and a white-American father.

I come from a conservative catholic family.

I come from a mother who never spoke Spanish to me as a child so I could be free of an accent when I went to school.

I come from the shame of never forming an authentic relationship with my grandparents because I didn’t speak Spanish.

I come from a family never truly knowing who I am, and choosing whom to let in.

I come from a family that never understood the implications of their choices.

I come from always having to keep it cool. Avoiding more than surface-level conversations to keep relationships in a positive light.

I come from a world where my interests and hobbies were stymied by gender norms.

I come from avoidance.

I come from putting up a facade and saying everything will be fine and most of the time I am right.

I come from acceptance of the cards I was dealt and doing the best that I can.

Excelling as a child and teenager, coasting in my early 20s. I come from searching for my true purpose.

I come from not knowing what to share with people, worried I might make them uncomfortable.

I come from the periphery, looking at the circumstances I’ve found myself in, grateful.

I come from resilience.

I come from a place of wanting to be myself.

— Michael M.

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HOUSE I am from a divided house That was once one A former single world severed by difficulty Resulting in tears, chaos, and resentments I am from a full house That once contained two Now a blended union of eight distinct lives Creating new bonds with love, laughter, and stories I am from a new house Where there are now three In one combined life that is just beginning Shaping the future unknown, full of hope and excitement And yet that divided house still lives in my mind Evoking worry and fear of a history repeated But I now know what it takes to construct a strong house, a different house Built brand new and resilient for the next story to unfold — Providence Kruger

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I come from practice Practice by inexperienced parents Parents who lost their own when young A child without grandparents and Parents without a support system I come from practice Practice in raising a child without help By parents who tried their best Gave their child what they could Taught their child what they knew I come from their success and smiles I come from their failures and tears Most of all I come from their love I come with gratitude — Ramana Viswanadha

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I come from a world of mixed messages, of dualities, I come from two parents who struggled to make ends meet at the beginning, But would never let my brother or me see it.

Who made the choice to move us across country when we were young, To prioritize family, career, our future.

I come from a family that brings joy and optimism to all situations, Even when things are falling apart.

A family who likes to pretend everything’s OK, The “at least it’s not cancer” family, Furniture stores, real estate, family businesses, Canadians turned southerners – a unique combination of kindness.

I come from a world of mixed messages, of dualities, A long line of patriarchs and matriarchs, A long line of Jewish people, wounded healers, Of guilt and internalized antisemitism, Some were able to escape the camps, and some weren’t, A family and a people who feel comfortable and safe in their communities until they don’t.

I also come from a people who are resilient and joyful, Who know how to make something out of nothing, People with optimism and good humor, People committed to repairing the world.

I come from a world of mixed messages, of dualities, A world that can be equally harmful as it is empowering, Hurry up and grow up, but don’t grow up too fast, Act like a lady, but man up, Speak up, but don’t be too loud, Advocate for yourself, but don’t ask for too much.

You are just one in a million, yet the world was made for you, You impact one life and it’s as if you’ve impacted the entire world.

These dualities, that make up my life and my world, Teach me to hold complexity, to see beauty and humanity in others, and build my life as if it were a work of art.

— Rebecca

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FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH I come from the paradox of the South and the North.

I come from fried chicken and cornbread; From large family reunions and small cousin gatherings; From knowing who you’re related to, but not knowing how.

I come from church on Sunday and Tuesday and Friday and Saturday; From gospel music blaring to wake us up on a Saturday morning to do chores; From Black Pastors and riveting music, And new church dresses for Easter and Christmas.

I come from the tears of BoBos leaving dents in my head; From perms and texturizers burning my scalp; From flat irons sizzling my hair and ears.

I come from highly educated women and men that loved to cook; From father/daughter and mother/son dances; From parents who balanced their life’s callings with their children’s extracurriculars.

I come from Jersey club music and Italian cheeseburgers; From family trips to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree; From summers in Orlando and Williamsburg.

I come from private school tuition and tv dinners; From Subway sandwiches and high-end restaurants; From getting everything I asked for and learning financial responsibility.

I come from maids and CEOs; From double Masters degrees and high school dropouts.

I come from former slaves who escaped to freedom and decided our last name; From sharecroppers who migrated to the North in search of opportunity; From the first Black registered nurse in East Orange, NJ. The truth is this is only the start.

As a Black person in America, I come from ancestry I will never fully know.

— Rio Dennis

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THOUGHTS OF A THIRD CULTURE KID I come from a continued search for comfort.

The irony of that statement clings to my mind Like a flag holding on against the wind.

I’ll be honest, I’ve had a blessed life.

I don’t have the typical immigrant story to share.

My parents, well-educated and successful, They gave my sister and me everything from private schooling to financial security.

They allowed us to engage with the world, From Korea to New York and everywhere in between.

But these fortunes became my burden.

A foreigner at home and a foreigner abroad.

The self-imposed torture of meeting Expectations that no one really placed on me, Yet it felt like they were always there.

That sense of disappointment if I don’t Reach the heights that I was privileged Enough to enjoy the view from.

It feels like I’m running a race, but what’s at the finish line?

The Korean dream? The American dream?

My family’s dreams? My dreams?

The uncertainty is what eats me alive But somehow, I keep pushing forward.

Maybe I don’t know what else to do, or Maybe that’s all I can do. Who really knows?

My search for comfort continues, and Perhaps I’ll find myself along the way.

— Stephen Ahn

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I come from two grandmothers.

I come from an illiterate grandmother who pinched pennies, but never stopped her four sons from achieving their potential.

I come from a grandmother who went to medical school.

I come from a grandmother who could not afford toys, but who always afforded love.

I come from a grandmother who opened her home and her arms to family.

I come from a grandmother who fought for her sons’ right to study.

I come from a grandmother who provided free medical service to the poor.

I come from grandmothers who stood their ground.

I come from grandmothers with backbones of steel.

As we celebrate International Womens’ Day, I thank God that I came from women such as these.

— Sumedha Mohan

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I come from a family of four But if it had gone to plan there could have been more The first to arrive after three bouts of miscarriage Ending the worries of a childless marriage Being the oldest brought love, but much expectation I could sense what they want without communication I know they mean well and draw from their past But is this what I desire or is there contrast My sister tries hard though she needs lots of support How much do I offer; would I let her fall short Do I instead focus on work to build my career It should pay off with money, is that why I’m here Or should I have a family; more than me and my wife How much is enough to live a substantiated life With the road that I’m on is there something amiss In 30 years from now did I follow my bliss?

— Tom Kennedy

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INVITATION I come from a place of agency Of romance I’d long written off Of love that permanently changed me I come from a place of feeling prejudice Inexplicable hate towards me That stood between that love and me Indeed, between the life I envisioned and me I come from a place of fear Of offending and losing And offend and lose I did Oh, well. It is what it is But now I’m here, And I’m coming from a place of courage To stand up against blinding hate To refuse “family honor” to ride on me To grate on me I’m in a place of pride With a story to pass on To little girls, mine and others, That their agency is theirs only That their choices are theirs only I come from ishq And I invite you to come with me — Zainab Imam

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