Immigrant Stories: First-Gen Guilt

Selvedina’s Background -

In 2001, my family packed their belongings in their suitcases, said goodbye to their loved ones, and ventured across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. Hard work and determination allowed us to make a place for ourselves here, but the journey for anyone coming from a foreign land is difficult. Through ImmiGreatness, I want to ease this journey for others and provide a helping hand to immigrants in the U.S. as they chase the opportunities they came here for.

First-generation guilt is very real, and coping with it isn't a linear process. If you're the child of parents who immigrated to a new country for the sake of their children's success, it's normal to struggle with feeling like you owe your parents for their sacrifices. Naturally, we tend to have this mindset of "if my parents could leave everything behind and cross an ocean to come here then I can handle anything."

As motivational as it can be to push yourself really hard to be successful and ensure their efforts were worth it, it's important to check in with yourself and make sure you're not getting too overwhelmed chasing that success. While working hard to make your family proud and break the cycle of disadvantages, remember not to neglect your mental health, or your own dreams and goals for your life.