{"id":315239,"date":"2026-05-14T10:55:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T10:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/315239\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T10:55:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T10:55:10","slug":"in-search-of-independence-far-from-home-this-graduate-found-it-at-berkeley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/315239\/","title":{"rendered":"In search of independence far from home, this graduate found it at Berkeley"},"content":{"rendered":"

This first-person narrative was written from an interview with Hannah Rabbani, who\u2019s graduating with a bachelor\u2019s degree in political economy this May. Have someone you think we should write about? Contact [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 17 years old, I packed my whole life into two suitcases and flew to California.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I grew up in Dubai with my mother and two sisters. After my parents\u2019 divorce, my mother took complete responsibility for us, and decided that I should go to school in the United States so that I could pursue a better education and build an independent life for myself, just like we both wanted.<\/p>\n

\"ASince Hannah can remember, her mom would tell her, \u201cYou are going abroad to the United States, you are going to be independent, and you will do everything that I could not when I was younger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Hannah Rabbani<\/p>\n

Ever since I was in fifth grade, my mother would always tell me, \u201cYou are going abroad to the United States, you are going to be independent, and you will do everything that I could not when I was younger.\u201d My personality comes from her resilience.<\/p>\n

In South Asian culture, it is not common for young women to move abroad for their studies. My mother married at a young age and gave birth to me around the same age I am now. She was determined to break that generational curse, and her parenting decisions were very intentional. She was always reminding me to focus on my studies and become independent, and she signed me up for every extracurricular activity she could, including swimming, acrobatics and basketball.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I arrived in the United States with no friends or family. Everything from opening a bank account to cooking a meal was foreign to me. I had not spent much time in the kitchen. The first meal I cooked was in my tiny California apartment 8,000 miles away from home. My mother tried to help me through late-night voice messages, but her recipes consisted of \u201cjust a pinch\u201d of one thing and a \u201cyou\u2019ll know how much\u201d of another. I\u2019d call her confused when my food was burning, and half-asleep, she\u2019d try to explain the measurements while laughing at my panic.<\/p>\n

\"HannahHannah (left) with her two younger sisters, Huda and Khadeejah, and her mom, Yusra.<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Hannah Rabbani<\/p>\n

I began my studies at De Anza College, then transferred to UC Berkeley in spring 2025. I applied to four schools, but the second I received my acceptance letter to Berkeley, I knew I had to go. I called my mother immediately and, even though it was 4 a.m. for her, she was ready to celebrate with me. My mother, as many South Asian mothers, is not someone who expresses her emotions often. But that night she made it clear how proud she was. Berkeley\u2019s acceptance was the culmination of what we both had worked for.<\/p>\n

Transferring to Berkeley pushed me to seek out spaces where I could truly belong and contribute to. One of the first groups I joined was the Muslim Tech Collaborative<\/a>, a student organization for Muslim students interested in the tech field. I was president for the 2025-26 academic year. I also became the international student-appointed officer for the University of California Student Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"HannahAt Berkeley, Hannah felt free to express her thoughts without judgement. \u201cI\u2019m excited to continue to grow, taking Berkeley\u2019s mindset with me,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

812visions<\/p>\n

As a political economy major, I\u2019m interested in how politics, culture and economics shape everyday life. In high school, I enjoyed the study of economics, but felt it offered a narrow view on human behavior. Political economy gave me the opportunity to better understand how politics affect societies in different communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Berkeley has given me tools I didn\u2019t realize I needed. I\u2019m able to express my thoughts without feeling intimidated because I know the people around me are just as driven and determined to grow. Every person I\u2019ve spoken to has unique ambitions, and I find myself realizing that I\u2019ve had the privilege to be surrounded by future leaders.<\/p>\n

After graduation, I plan on staying in the United States and working at a startup in San Francisco; I hope to one day also work at the United Nations in international policymaking.<\/p>\n

My life has revolved around constant change, and because of that, I have learned how to adapt to different roles and responsibilities. I\u2019ve worked hard the past four years building a life for myself in California and I\u2019m excited to continue to grow, taking Berkeley\u2019s mindset with me.<\/p>\n

Keep up with Hannah Rabbani on Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n

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