Dedication and Acknowledgements

I dedicate this book to my late parents, Inspector Kubir Gurung of the Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police Force and Mrs. Bishnu Gurung, who continue to watch over me from the Kingdom of Heaven. My parents taught me early on that there are no shortcuts in life but simply, hard work and dedication, and it is the best lesson I have received from them for this journey called life. All that I was, am, and hope to be, I owe to them both. I love you and miss you both dearly.

I also dedicate this book to my eldest brother, who passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19. I remember how excited he was when I shared my news of getting multiple interviews for a tenure-track faculty position. I feel proud to publish this book during my third year as a tenure-track faculty member at the City University of New York, and I dedicate it to the students at City Tech.

A special thanks to my husband, Kenzie Gurung, for staying up with me on countless nights, preparing food and drinks to keep me awake, and making sure my brain was functioning as I wrote this book over the past year.