I am my dad - Diya Patel

I was born, not yet knowing who I was or who I'd become

Home to the Himalayan mountains

That seemed to split the sky in two

I got married for the sake of my parents

When I was young my family decided to go to the United States

Where freedom and destiny awaited

Sadly, my immigration papers did not go through

I spent a portion of my young and teenage years by myself as a kid raising myself

My parents and siblings were to far away to help

I thought I was going to be alone forever

I walked home, cooked dinner, cleaned, took care of myself.

Eventually when I was fourteen I came to the United States and stayed here.

I would not go back, I came here to begin my life with my wife.

We had a beautiful baby girl and then another,

They are the pride of my life,

Without them I am incomplete,

I taught them love is what matters,

Making sure at the end of the day You know i love you,

And that when the their whole world seems to fall apart at the seams, Iĺl be there

I know in my heart I would never leave my daughter,

I make sure that they get things I didn´t ,

All I want is to see them grow and mature and never leave.