juliana and 1778
When prompted to identify what tree she found meaningful and why, Juliana shared a story about her life prior to coming to America. Years ago, her family was temporarily living near a park in Tehran, Iran. The situation was stressful because they were anxiously waiting to receive documents required for emigration to the United States. While waiting, Juliana would frequently visit the park to take her mind off her family’s predicament. The beautiful tree-filled gardens were lined with geometric walkways separated by pools of water. Regular visits to the park became a refuge before her family finally received approval to emigrate. The stretch of Magnolia trees in the central part of the UT Dallas campus today reminds Juliana of the park in Tehran. Tree number 1778 symbolizes the serenity that helped her overcome her anxieties while waiting to start a better life