As the daughter of an Indian father and a Persian mother, USC senior Sahar Nangoli recounted her multicultural childhood following the oil industry from Tehran to Indonesia, Houston, New Orleans, Bahrain, and eventually California. Despite her residence and countless memories in numerous cities in the U.S., Nangoli expressed, “I don’t think I’ve ever called myself an American genuinely in my life, and that’s because I think think that everything about me is a result of the culture that I was brought up in, not because of necessarily like an American influence.”
Growing up in a predominantly Persian household because of the proximity to her mother’s family, Farsi was the primary language in her home until the American education system introduced her to English.
In expressing her parents’ approach to her childhood, Nangoli stated, “My parents didn’t really adopt the American outlook on how to bring up children, especially when we moved here, they stayed within their own kind of isolated mindset.”
In expressing her parents’ approach to her childhood, Nangoli stated, “My parents didn’t really adopt the American outlook on how to bring up children, especially when we moved here, they stayed within their own kind of isolated mindset.”
Her father’s journey from privilege to poverty and her mother’s academic achievements in Iran transpired her determined and ambitious attitude towards education. In addition to the pressure Nangoli puts on herself to honor her parents’ journey, she also grapples with the pressures shaped by the professional norms of her Persian culture. “The commonly accepted stereotype for Middle Eastern culture is the doctor lawyer stereotype, and it transcends any physical boundaries. It is seriously all encompassing, regardless of where you live, as long as you have Middle Eastern parents,” said Nangoli.
While Nangoli agrees that doctor and lawyer are not the only successful choices, she disagrees with the perceived view in American culture that, “You can study whatever you want…as long as you’re happy. I think that’s good, in words, but I don’t really believe that.” Nangoli attributes her high esteem and responsibility in education to her Middle Eastern roots, motivating her to choose a profession that affords her the opportunity to live a stable life.
ceremony from Kirby High School in Santa Cruz. During
her four years, she also studied at Westside High School
in Houston and Bahrain School in Bahrain.
Academically, Nangoli excels with flying colors thanks to her commitment to her studies and the zealous work ethic engrained from her parents. Socially, Nangoli struggled to navigate her two cultural worlds. For as long as she can remember, trying to fit in feels like “I’ve put on 10 different faces for 10 different people. And admittingly, that’s something that I still struggle with.” The irony lies in the fact that outsiders shared that Nangoli’s strength is adapting to any group she finds herself in. “I think part of the problem is that I don’t have a strong sense of self outside of what I know people want me to be. And I think that’s definitely a result of my upbringing.”
Dean Nickey Woods, Associate Dean of Student Life, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at USC Gould School of Law relays Nangoli’s social response as code switching. Code switching is the process of switching behavior, dialect or style depending on the in-group or social context. According to Dean Woods, if community members portrayed genuine interest and passion to understand other cultures, perhaps students, like Nangoli, would not need to wear different hats for different contexts. Speaking on personal experience, Dean Woods stated, “I want you to see me for all the different identities I am. Be genuinely curious about me and my culture, and then maybe when I’m in these different spaces, I don’t feel compelled to have to shift or change who I am to fit that space, you just fully and completely accept me for who I am.”
When asked how she would react if she were labeled as “white-washed,” Nangoli’s face grew heavy. “I think the reason why I would be offended is because I think that term is just a total disregard for any of the things that I endured growing up in order to be in the position I am today,” she expressed. Although she wears that she would not be able to sport in Iran and speaks with an American accent, she still remains deeply connected to her Persian roots and tradition.
The question lies whether Nangoli’s continued time in America will dilute her connection to her Persian roots. Despite her strong-hold passion for her culture Nangoli has, “…accepted that with time and without revisiting your culture, it can dwindle.”
In Newport Beach, California, where Nangoli’s family resides, her parents maintain their rich Iranian heritage through local groups and traditions. Orange County is the home to a dense Iranian-American population, but that is not the same for every hometown. Dean Woods affirms the significance of fostering connections to culture outside of the home country. “It is so important to be able to have communities within the broader communities, because you don’t lose your cultural identity. You have people that you bond with, people who understand your perspective, people that you can celebrate your culture with. If your culture is not being celebrated or acknowledged or talked about, how do you maintain the richness of it and the beauty of it.”