My father came home from work to find a brown envelope on the table. He entered the house walking towards the couch we were sitting in. He sat down, put his lunch bag down and greeted us. We all greeted back.

I stood up, took the envelope and gave it to him.

“What is this?” he asked.

“That is my academic record,” I responded, trying to hold myself not to sound too excited and ruin the moment. He silently went through the document.

“Congratulations,” he said with a sigh of relief and excitement. He continued, “I have not finished school but I have worked hard so you can go study and fulfil your dreams. You have set a good example to your siblings of being the first graduate in this family and I am really proud of you.”

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Tell us: What do you make of the father’s reaction after reading the academic record?