Friendly Reminder Friday: First-Gens
As much as growing up as a first-gen may come with tedious responsibilities, there’s a lot of growth that comes out of the hardships. So many brilliant success stories come from immigrants who overcame similar hurdles that we’re all familiar with to do some incredible things. Sometimes, though, the weight gets a bit heavy and we forget to acknowledge how strong we are. Below are a few reminders for those times:
It’s a marathon, not a race
Once we reach a certain age, many of us feel the need to be successful and give back to our families for all of their sacrifices. Something about our 20s especially fuels this drive in us, but it’s important to remember to slow down at times. Greatness cannot happen overnight, and as long as you are doing something - you’re doing well. Remember that there are plenty of benefits to taking your time with things, and there are risks to rushing the process.
You are enriched with knowledge
As a member of an immigrant family, you’re gaining knowledge from both your native culture and the culture you immigrate to. Most times, our families carry their traditions with them and stories, knowledge, practices, etc. are passed down onto us. In a different sense, we’re also learning about the culture we live in by just existing there. These two experiences combined shape us and the way we think in a way where we’re able to connect with people differently, and bring diverse ideas and perspectives to the table.
You’re not alone
Lacking proper guidance growing up makes figuring things out for yourself become a norm. While independence can give us a lot of confidence, it can also become frustrating if things go south. It can easily feel like you’re alone and no one understands you because you handle everything you need to, but it’s important to remember you’re not alone and just because you can handle things without help, doesn’t mean you need to.
We feel an immense amount of pressure to amount to something great, but sometimes that blinds us from remembering the great things we’ve already done so far. Take a moment to look back onto the things you’re proud of yourself for, and look to the future knowing that there’s so much you’re going to accomplish. Regardless of who you do it for - yourself, your family, someone back home - do it in a healthy way. Take breaks when you need to and give yourself time, use the knowledge and experience you’re gaining from both cultures to your advantage, and seek help whenever you need it.
