​I Looked at My Old University Graduation Photo and Cried

Dear Delyara, It is 5:15 AM, and while looking for an old tax document on my hard drive, I stumbled across the high-resolution photo from my university graduation day in London. I stared at the face of the young man in that frame—his posture was straight, his eyes were bright, and he was holding that business management degree like it was a golden ticket to the world. He looked so incredibly certain of his success. I looked from that screen down to the grease on my uniform trousers and the cheap plastic clipboard resting on my knees, and I just broke down. The quiet, shaking tears caught me completely off guard. I have spent years running as fast as I can, working double shifts, and fighting bureaucracy, but tonight I just feel like I've completely failed that boy in the photo.