Passed down from generation to generation in her family, Daniella Rasho treasures the children’s storybook, “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. A junior in the Bandier program, Rasho had the last line from “The Giving Tree” tattooed onto her left arm while in New York City her freshman year. The quote, “And the tree was happy,” is in the same font as the storybook.

Even though the book is about sacrifice and is a metaphor for consumption, Rasho said she took a different meaning out of it. To her, the story reflects a relationship between parents and a child.

Both of Rasho’s parents were Iraqi immigrants and did not have many privileges growing up. So when Rasho was younger, her parents put her in every activity she was interested in.

“They made sure to give me the childhood that they never had,” Rasho said.

Rasho’s father still travels often, leaving for months and even years for work. But he does this to support the family, something Rasho appreciates.

“I wanted to get something that commemorated my parents’ selflessness and that symbolically reminds me to be grateful, to empathize and love unconditionally, all traits and morals my parents instilled in me,” Rasho said.

Rasho said that all she ever wants is to make her parents happy. But by following her dreams and maintaining the morals her parents taught her, Rasho said her parents have really found happiness. She said that the tattoo would always be there to help her remember their sacrifices.

The book is a generational tradition in her family, so a few years ago Rasho bought her younger sister the book as well. Rasho said she read the book to her sister in bed, sharing the same lessons she herself gained from the book. Rasho said her younger sister, who is only 10 years old, already plans to tattoo the same quote someday.

Rasho compares her parents to the trees in the story and said that if she stays grounded, then her trees will be happy and that it works full-circle in that way.

Said Rasho: “If they’re happy, I’m happy.”

Published on February 16, 2016 at 12:01 am

Contact: lmeyers@syr.edu