Love, Hope and Gratitude
The excitement around the residence halls was palpable as students and families filled the campus for Move-in Day. For one group in particular, the day marked an important and special milestone. As the first-generation to attend university, they were experiencing the culmination of a lifetime of hopes and dreams — and the beginning of the brightest of futures.
Philosophy major Dominique Codjia and her parents, Jamie and Henri Codjia, took a few moments to write letters to each other expressing their feelings about the achievement, what their hopes are and how much family support matters. Their words are a touching reminder of the potential higher education holds to change the future.
Following are those letters.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I feel as though college was always one of those things we talked about and talked about, but it never truly felt real. It’s always been a dream and I think that’s why it’s so difficult to believe. For years and years I have always thought about the day I would move out of the house and begin this much more independent life. Now that day has come and I feel much differently about it than I did before.
Before I had thought that would be the end of it. I think every 18-year-old thinks the same thing: college equals freedom. It does, but not the freedom that I once thought.
The truth is I’m now free to make my own decisions and my own choices; however, there’s a catch. It’s impossible for me to do any of this without you. Despite my sudden independence, I will always be reliant on the things that you have taught me. So in a way, I am still reliant on you. Every choice I make is somewhat influenced by the 18 years that you pushed me to succeed at a level beyond satisfactory.
I can’t forget all of the years that you invested in me. All the hours you spent teaching me to read, driving me to practice, and even simply talking to me will always be an essential part of who I am. So now all you have to do is know that I appreciate all these things more than you can ever know. You think I didn’t notice? I did.
Philosophy major Dominique Codjia.
College is more than just a place to study. It’s a place to grow as a person and take advantage of all the opportunities that I now have. Your dream for me to go to college was my motivation at first, but now you have given me my own motivation to succeed. You have always expressed to me how important education is, and now I am beginning to fully understand why you did that.
It opens up an entirely different world and is the reason that I’m now here at USC. Your constant urging for me to get into college and to take hold of every opportunity given to me has helped me to understand that being a first-generation college student means that I am able to influence this world in a much bigger way.
Now your dream for me has become my reality and I couldn’t be more excited being able to share this special event in my life with my parents — the ones that have made this possible.
Love, Dominique
Dear Dominique,
Today, we are very thankful. I never imagined seeing this day in my life, being an immigrant from a small country located on the Western African coast, where an average worker makes $350 a year as an income. When I immigrated to the United States in the mid-90’s, I had less than $5 in my pocket.
While living here, I enrolled in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes due to the language barrier. I was working part time cleaning people’s houses for $5 an hour. To me it was very good money back then. It was about survival.
Henri Louis C. Codjia.
As life changed over the years for me, your mom and I met, got married and had you, Mireille and Etienne. To me, it is big accomplishment that you are attending one of the most prestigious schools on earth, USC, at the same time we are very sad about you leaving us at home for an adult life.
We are proud for your accomplishment; we know it is a great start. I can’t wait to come to your graduation here at USC in the next four years.
I was not fortunate enough to have all these opportunities. Now you are, but I am feeling good about where you are going today. I did not make it that far, but now I know my daughter’s journey is already raising the bar high.
It is very hard to let you go. We are proud parents and we stand by your side to help you be successful.
Love, Dad
Dear Dominique,
I feel like I have been preparing for this day since the day you were born. I have always wanted more for you and your sister and brother than I ever had. When I was growing up, I don’t even remember the word college even being mentioned, and I knew that I wanted to make sure that you were always aware that there is something more for you. So I knew when I had you I wanted the best for you. And I knew education was the way towards that goal.
We’ve always talked about college, but not just as a place to learn facts. It’s always been a gateway to bigger things. Whenever we talked about it, I always tried to help you understand that education provides you with opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you.
Jamie Codjia.
I wanted you to go college so that you could make a better living and live the life that you wanted. One where finances are not a problem and where you can pursue all of the things that you have ever wanted. I wanted you to have a life free of the obstacles that can come with not having a higher education.
We are so proud of you. Even just this past spring as I watched and listened to you give your speech at graduation, I thought of how hard you’ve worked to arrive at this moment. You have accomplished everything that I had ever hoped, and your future looks brighter than I had ever thought possible.
Love, Mom