From their willingness to do manual labor, leaving everything they know, in addition to navigating an increasingly complex system, immigrants deserve more credit than they are offered.
My father is an electrician who emigrated from Guyana in his twenties. He had a degree in agriculture but went back to school to learn engineering, which was his life-long dream. He went to school at night, while working odd jobs during the day. It took him seven years to get his bachelors and he then decided that he was too old and settled for becoming an electrician. The pay was steady and he needed stability because he had just married my mom. He gave up his dreams for practicality. He was willing to do anything to get on his two feet. His grit and tenacity are things that I'm so proud of and I hope to inherit. He had to work 40- or 50-hour weeks and he still does. His partners all have similar stories.
They came to America for better opportunities and are working tirelessly to ensure their survival. It's directly due to my father's endless work that I'm able to live the lifestyle I have today. It's a privilege that I recognize and that I'm eternally grateful for.
Like my father, my mother also emigrated from Guyana. She was 10 years old when her whole family packed up and left their tiny village. It was the only home she had ever known.
She left her friends, extended family and everything that was familiar. She left the mango and coconut trees in her backyard, which gave her fruit in abundance. When they got to America, my mom, her four siblings, and their parents lived in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn. She had to learn a completely new way of living as she left relaxed Caribbean life for the hustle of NYC. My mom had to make new friends and learn to forge her identity in a place that wasn't familiar to her. Her resilience has truly been inspiring for me.
Especially in today's volatile political climate, immigrants face uncertainty as they try to come to the United States.
There are a variety of visas for different residencies. Sometimes, the process takes years. For example, some of my closest friends are here on student visas. They play for athletic teams here in the United States and were recruited from countries like Egypt, Columbia and Ukraine. They have all had very different experiences. One said it was easy and painless; another was wrapped up in paperwork for months and almost didn't make it here. They all collectively say that, "(the process) is so complicated and it's extremely easy to send the wrong form to the wrong place." But they all believe the process was worth it. They wanted the best education coupled with the best athletics. So, they persevered and couldn't be happier at school here.
In my eyes, immigrants deserve endless credit as they exhibit grit, tenacity, and resilience as they make their way through life.
