Can I???? By: Omar Black

"Can I?...." Arav constantly asks his parents questions that start off with those words. Born into a life where he has no choices in the direction his life is headed young Arav already has his life planned out for him. His family is very traditionally structured and they believe that his life exists because of them and because of that they have the right to make his life's decisions for him. Arav wants to explore the world. He wants to just enjoy life and experience what the eastern hemisphere has to offer. Ever since he turned 17 years of age his main goal is to go to college in the United States. His main reason for that is to get away from his parents and after that his reason for wanting to leave is to just experience life. His parents don't want him to leave because they want to continue to control him however they know that this opportunity of him going to college in the U.S. is life changing for the better. Arav is a straight A student and has been ever since he started school and his parents made sure of that. "Can I just live" is all Arav cares for. He's not going to commit any crime or act recklessly. Instead he just wants to live and he knows that the only way that'll be possible is when he goes off to college pretty soon. His student Visa showed up just weeks later way before his 18th birthday and he's prepared to experience life. "Can I?" Well yes you can Arav and your day to be able to just live is coming.