Growing up in America

In our time, people are leaving their home country for many reasons. And then their kids have to grow up in a new homeland. Watch the video to find out how this is for teenager Aaron Darab.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• competitive - having a strong desire to win or be the best at something
• sophomore - a student in the second year of high school or college in the US
• diverse student body - all the students at a school and they are all of different ages, races, etc.
• diversity - situation with people who are different races or who have different cultures, etc.
• burden - something that is really difficult to accept, do or deal with
• embrace - to accept something readily or gladly
• role model - someone who another person admires and tries to be like
• it will stand him in good stead - it will be useful or helpful to him

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. What is Aaron’s own explanation for being competitive?


2. For Aaron, what is the good thing of going to a school with students of all kinds of backgrounds?


3. How does Aaron feel about his Afghan roots?


4. Who inspired Aaron to start playing basketball?