A moment that changed me: A telegram arrived
Should I follow the man of my dreams to work in a club in Tehran? Or take up a place at an elite university? Thankfully, my dad gave me advice I’ve lived by ever since
TL;DR
- The author's parents did not expect her to attend university, with her mother preparing her for marriage.
- The author's mother encouraged domestic "finishing" courses to enhance her marriage prospects.
- The author's father recognized her passion for literature and encouraged her to apply to university despite her academic record.
- A telegram offering a place at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, arrived while the author was considering moving to Tehran to work with her DJ boyfriend.
- Her father sent a two-sheet letter, 'Sheet B' of which powerfully argued for her to attend university, leading to her decision to accept the offer.
- The author eventually married her boyfriend, and her English teacher's novel won the Booker Prize.
- Her father's letter influenced her approach to making significant life decisions.