Many of our parents and grandparents, having traveled to the United States for the amelioration of their way of life and their future, come with very high expectations for themselves and following generations. The harsh reality of the fact is due the complications of assimilation and attaining education and substantial work as an immigrant, the first to set foot on American soil are not always the first ones to achieve what has universally become known as the American Dream.

Growing up as a member of a minority community in the U.S. makes you from a very early age incredibly conscious of the fact that whatever you’re doing, you are doing as not only yourself, but as a symbol of endurance of what your family has sacrificed to be here, what historical suffering our nation may have brought upon your people, and of your culture. It is inherently ingrained the mind of American society that whatever achievements minority immigrants or their descendants have are important not only because they are impressive demonstrations of their capabilities, but also because they are symbolic of the capabilities of their native cultures.

That’s a lot of pressure for one person, representing millions through one single action.

You are born into a competition- you have to be the best at everything that you do. Not just as yourself, but also as an outsider establishing a presence in a primarily Caucasian society that may at times underestimates your talents based solely off of your origins. Being a poster child for whatever ethnicity you have is a game of proving yourself to your family, to others and to America. You are a beautiful beacon of hope for anyone with aspirations beyond their current circumstances.

As someone who lives this, it’s a double- edged sword of a shame. That we cannot just be recognized for our achievements, but instead, have to be commended for achieving things while Black, while Latina, while Indian, while being anything other than just ourselves. Our presence in schools, jobs, industries and popular cultural is unfortunately so sporadic that when we hit it big, it’s a big deal. Yes, giving homage to your heritage and understand where you come from is a big role in the formation of one’s identity and relation to the world. I’m not saying that the solution to resenting this frame of mind is to totally do away with all acknowledgement of cultural background. But it isn’t fair that our culture supersedes our personhood. We are not just our heritage, as evident in the feats we accomplish. What we identify as is not our only crowning glory. On the same token, it is altogether amazing to be able to say:

“I’m gifted, and I come from a diverse cultural background that motivates me and is proud of me”.

Identifying as part of a minority often puts you between a rock and a hard place. You’re American, you’re something else, and at the same time, you are so much more than either of those labels could ever imply.

As complicated as that is, I think it’s the best part:

Being an intelligent, enduring, impressive, indefinable, inspirational you.