My family emigrated from Ukraine in 1995, when I was just five years old. I don’t remember much about how life was like in the former Soviet Union, but from what I hear from my parents and grandparents life was difficult, especially for us Jews, treated as second-class citizens.
For example, my mom was not allowed to attend Unversity in Ukraine. Consequently, forcing her to move to Voronezh, Russia, where she got her Ph.D. in Chemistry. After, she permanently relocated to Voronezh, where anti-Semitism was not an issue. Nevertheless, life was still hard, and when the U.S.S.R collapsed in 1991, life became even more desperate.
Now, to make a long story short my family and I were lucky enough to be given an opportunity to move to the United States. I can't even articulate how grateful I am to this nation for accepting us. In the U.S my mom went from
cleaning toilets to having an outstanding career in Chemistry doing R&D.
Later, I joined the U.S Army as a way to say thank you and pay back the debt that I felt I owed to the American people. Additionally, I'm incredibly proud of my Russian and Jewish heritage. Without getting political, let me say that if Russia and the U.S worked together, we would all be much better off, because There is so, so much these two great nations can accomplish standing side by side with each other. Anyone who has ever been to Russia knows how much Russians love America.