If I Become President

Iran, from the View of the Back Benches

At the foot of the blackboard, the children’s small world suddenly grew large.

The essay topic was simple: “If I Become President…”

But the answers became a mirror reflecting our collective pains.

One spoke of cheaper gasoline.

Another of the glory of mosques.

One spoke of finding a job for his unemployed father.

And one… remained silent, afraid of the sting of a belt.

This story is not just a child’s simple essay.

It is a narration of the hidden layers of a society that has left its dreams inside the schoolbags of its children.

If I Become President

By Faramarz Parsa

The teacher wrote on the blackboard:

Last week’s essay topic: (If I Become President).

Then he turned to the students and said,

“If you become president, what would you do for your country?”

He called on one of the students.

The student began reading:

“The teacher chose a very difficult topic. I always wanted to become an actor, and I had planned my whole future around that. So this is a bit hard for me. But I have no choice; I must write about it.

If I become president, the first thing I will do is make the New Year holidays thirteen days long for government offices, so parents can spend more time with their children. Then I will make gasoline cheaper so people won’t worry about travel expenses. I will increase salaries so parents can give holiday gifts to their children. I will also build a proper grass soccer field for the kids in our neighborhood so their knees don’t get hurt. These things will make people happy.”

The teacher said,

“Yes, these are good ideas, and having a proper soccer field is excellent. But you must look around you more carefully.”

Then he called on the next student.

The student said,

“Sir? I never thought I would become president, so I asked my father to help me. But he said, ‘I’m a driver and I don’t like these troublesome jobs.’ So I didn’t write the essay.”

The teacher replied,

“Go stand in the corner, lift one leg, and keep your hands on your head until the bell rings!”

He called the next student.

The student began in the name of God and said:

“When I told my father, who is the prayer leader of our neighborhood mosque, about the topic, he became upset. He said I must follow his path and take his place. I said the teacher asked what I would do if I became president. But I know my classmates don’t like me much. Still, I have to answer.

My father said: Write ‘In the name of God, the Most Merciful.’ If you become president, your first priority must be hijab. Then young people should come to the mosque two hours a day to learn religious teachings. Sir? My father loves seeing the mosque full of young people. A good president must care about religion. If we have a godly president, everything will be fine. I will double the number of mosques.”

The teacher said,

“This is also a perspective. But children, you must look at the difficulties people face and think about what is necessary for prosperity and welfare.”

The bell rang.

“Time’s up. The rest next week.”

The following week, the teacher wrote again on the board:

If I Become President.

He called another student.

The student said:

“In the name of God. If I become president, I must develop the country. Since I cannot do it alone, I asked my father, who has been unemployed for several months. He was very happy that I might become president. He kissed me and said we would put all our relatives in good jobs first, and then create as many jobs as possible so no one would be unemployed. The most important duty of a president is to think about unemployed people.”

The teacher said,

“You should write with your own thinking, not others’ help.”

The student replied,

“Sir? My father says a president must have good advisors to help the country.”

The teacher nodded.

“Yes, that’s true. Sit down.”

He called another student.

The student said nervously:

“Sir? When I asked my mother’s husband for help, he beat me with his belt and said we must never talk about such things in this house! He said, ‘I am the president in this house, understand?’ So we didn’t write anything.”

The teacher sighed.

“Did your grandfather beat you? Tell him to come tomorrow.”

The student replied,

“Not my grandfather… my mother’s husband. My mother calls him ‘Sir.’”

The teacher sighed again.

“Then tell him to come to school.”

Another student began:

“In the name of God who gave humans wisdom to defend their country. If I become president, since we no longer fight with swords, I will equip the country like in American movies — with advanced fighter jets, sniper rifles, and skilled sharpshooters. I will buy warplanes to protect the country from enemies. Then people and children will live safely and happily.”

As the teacher stared at him, another student asked permission and read:

“My sister said if I become president, my first task will be to strengthen the internet. Today everyone gets news and communicates through smartphones. A good president must understand modern science and allow people and children to have open access to games and communication.”

The school bell rang.

The teacher interrupted and asked,

“Did I say your sister would become president?”

The student replied,

“Sir? My sister didn’t say she would. She said if I become president, I should do these things.”

The teacher said,

“Class is over. Goodbye.”