Growing up with immigrant parents in a town where most people were either Irish or Italian was difficult. It was hard to to relate to others because I was considered “different” due to my parents being from Russia. I faced many difficulties that only other people with immigrant parents would understand. Your parents want to help you in every way they possibly can but it was difficult because their culture was very different. My parents did they very best they could, providing me and my brother with everything we needed and brought us up in a great town with a great school system. It was hard for them to adjust to the new culture and learn a completely foreign language but they knew it would allow my brother and I to be successful.
While being bilingual has many upsides it was difficult hearing two different languages, Russian was spoken in the house and then going to school hearing another one. I had a tough time with grammar and it took me longer to learn how to read compared to other students. I remember being the last one in my first grade class to learn how to spell their last name. On the first day of classes I was always the kid who teachers could never pronounce their last name. I got a lot of interesting nicknames while growing up.
Of course there are those kids in middle school and high school who think its funny to make ignorant remarks to make others laugh. I was called a communist more than once. However, those kids didn't realize that not everyone during the Soviet Union supported communism. And no, not every Russian chugs vodka on the reg. And no I do not have a pet bear.These are just some of the stereotypes that are projected on Russians.
While I faced adversities growing up only now can I be truly thankful for growing up with immigrant parents. I am blessed to have grown up with such a rich culture that I can be proud of. My Russian culture opened my eyes to things I believe many people wouldn't understand or ever think about because they did not live in a Russian household. My parents instilled handwork and never allowed me to believe I couldnt be successful. There are many assumptions on first generation children of immigrant parents, that they will not be as successful because of the hardships the face. However, I believe having immigrant parents made me want to prove that I could be successful and all the sacrifices my parents gave for my brother and I so we could play club soccer, go to great private colleges and have a life that not every first generation family experiences.
So I want to thank my parents of raising me to be the person I am today and doing everything they could possibly do for us.
