Immigrant Stories: Rewriting Generational Cycles
“You don’t have to become a victim of generational cycles-you have the ability to write your own outcome, even if it’s not completely clear at first.” This month’s immigrant spotlight passionately explains how we hold the pen to our narrative and how we must use our parent’s stories as motivation rather than a reason to hold us back.
Nikki Castro-Hernandez shares her story—from learning about corporate America in her twenties to landing a position at Steelcase before graduating. Castro recalls growing up and knowing at a very young age that she needed to get straight A’s, there was no clear path as to why this would be necessary in the long run, she just figured she’d do it to acquire a high school degree and make her parents proud. Once she reached this point she knew that the next right step was to go to college. GRCC was deemed the best option since she didn’t exactly know how her career would unfold with a business degree. Castro completed the tasks and assignments at hand, transferred to GVSU, and yet still felt very confused and deserted due to the lack of knowledge and clarity of how higher education works and should be used. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Building Bridges through Education, a program within the Grand Rapids Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that she was introduced into a whole new world. Castro was paired with a success navigator who showcased doors of opportunity that her parents were not able to display. More importantly to Castro, “My mentor helped me get out of my comfort zone and truly find my voice.” This program gave her glimpses of opportunities and positions that she had never imagined. Yet, It wasn’t until she began to acknowledge her worth and build her own confidence that she began to envision herself in these positions.
Reminding herself that she is where she is supposed to be and that she brings a unique outlook to every conversation not only brings forth her current role at Steelcase today but actively keeps Castro confident in her abilities. “I often feel like the odd one out being the only Latina in different conversations and meetings, but I’ve realized that it’s an opportunity for my perspective to be heard and valued.” Castro has now gained access to a new society that she didn’t even know existed. As she reflects on her upbringing, she reminds herself that it is at no fault of her parents for not knowing that these opportunities were possible. Instead, she encourages everybody to challenge their version of reality. At times, different outcomes can seem so far away, but Nikki’s story proves that new cycles and new beginnings are right around the corner if we let ourselves accept vulnerability and change.
A special message from Nikki: We must tune into all aspects of life. “Success is not only defined by your income, it includes your mental health, nutrition, and overall well-being. In life, you need to constantly ask yourself, ‘What do I need to learn next?’” The world has so much to offer, but we cannot know all that it offers until we allow ourselves to be open vessels of knowledge.
Written by: Maxine Osorio
