My Favorite Chaperone

At the beginning of the story, Maya takes a permission slip for the Spring Fling, even though she’s certain her parents won’t sign it. Nonetheless, she can’t bring herself to throw it away, symbolizing that she has hope. She references the US specifically when reflecting on her hope for a better future. As such, the permission slip specifically symbolizes Maya’s desire for her parents’ treatment of her to become more American—she wants permission to do more things like other American teens. The activities she seeks permission for give her pleasure and purpose and make her feel like an individual. This is represented by her positive feelings about gymnastics, for which her father signed a permission slip.

At the end of the story, Nurzhan convinces their parents to sign the Spring Fling permission slip, to Maya’s surprise. This symbolizes their willingness to change and see their daughter as her own person, even if they don’t see eye-to-eye (and even if that permission must be given in a culturally appropriate way, like giving her a chaperone). As such, the permission slip represents Maya getting permission in a broader sense to come into her own and participate in American culture.