"I was Their American Dream" Maggie Chen by Maggie Chen

The Expectation

maggiechen88 — 2024-05-11 16:46:22 UTC

My parents echo the same words while I was growing up and still does to my brother and I. Like Malaka's parents, they moved to the United States from their motherland. However unlike Malaka's mother who came to America so she can be safe and Malaka's father who had the passion to come to America, my parents came to America so they can send money back to their family and have a better life for their future family. For majority of the chinese-immigrant families, the parents would make sure their children get the best of what they need as they are growing up from getting extra prep for their education and making sure they are exceeding so the children do not need to sacrifice like the parents who came to another country without any knowledge.

Parents Meeting

maggiechen88 — 2024-05-11 16:47:42 UTC

This is a reflection of my family. My parents also met one another in this country. They met in New York while they were working.

American DREAM

maggiechen88 — 2024-05-11 16:50:28 UTC

This is huge idea/hope that if not most but all immigrants wished for when moving to America. The idea of having a house, being able send nice things back home, and having children that were raised in America but not forgetting who they really are all too familiar as these are some that my family and extended families hope for. I also feel like the American Dream is not only for immigrants but for everyone even for those not living in America where people living in their motherland also hope for these accomplishments.

"It takes a village to raise a child"

maggiechen88 — 2024-05-11 16:55:57 UTC

The statement "it takes a village to raise a child" calls onto Malaka's life as well as my life as well. Since I was born, I was raised by my grandparents, my aunt, and my dad's close friend who was like family since my parents were busy working. Having families who raised me allowed me to experience different things and have close relationship with those who raised me. Although there were difficulties due to not having my parents raising me, these things were unique.

College & Job

maggiechen88 — 2024-05-11 17:06:16 UTC

This is something that I experience as well when applying to college and trying to find what I wanted to major. Before college, my parents wanted me to become a teacher. Since I knew that I wanted to work with kids I thought why not. However as college process began, the idea of being a teacher faded. The idea of working with kids continued to be there but I did not know what I wanted to do. My mom pulled the idea of going to the medical field but I knew already that I did not want to become a doctor so they were like how about a nurse after many failed attempts to persuade me. The process of becoming a nurse major was hard in Hunter College and I needed a backup plan. My parents always tell me going to college and coming out of college, the main priority is getting a job that can finance my life rather than studying things that would not make money. This lead me to decide my backup plan would be the Education program at Hunter. So as I was applying to the Nursing Program I was also applying to the Education program. Although the Nursing Program is hard and there are times when I want to give up, I feel like there is no other field that I would be happy at as my goal is become a pediatric nurse or pediatric NP.

Communities

maggiechen88 — 2024-05-11 17:09:43 UTC

Living in an immigrant community, I would say is a great thing especially for those who is coming from another country and feel like there is not a place for them. I feel like my parents was able to feel like they belong because they were able to fit in since everyone was like them and there were even some people that were from their village as well. Being able to live in a Chinese community (near Chinatown), I was able to experience my culture from foods to meeting those people who was also Chinese-Americans. I experienced foods that was the same as back in mainland China and Hong Kong while also continuing to try new foods while living in the community as new stores would open.

First, I like the wallpaper you created. And yes, your parents had the same purpose coming to America as many other parents: to provide a good life to their children that will allow them to succeed in life, and to send as much money to family back in their homeland. This entails enormous sacrifice and hard work on the parents' part, for which they expect their children to try their best in their studies.

fidelitocortes — 2024-05-16 02:46:28 UTC

The overtly materialistic ideal of American success of Malaka's parents would be wonderful if it really comes true, but pose terrible pitfalls for most immigrant families facing working class realities, who might get into unsustainable debt or be forced to work multiple jobs and backbreaking hours just to attain those material goals.

fidelitocortes — 2024-05-16 02:53:46 UTC

fidelitocortes — 2024-05-16 03:03:58 UTC

It's fortunate that your parents had a large extended family that they could count on to help raise your brother and yourself. I wish this were the case for most immigration families but it's more common for the parents to migrate first, followed by the children, or for the nuclear family to immigrate together—so they don't have the advantage of having relatives nearby to help with the children. Many are forced to leave the children alone in the home as latchkey kids, while some are lucky to eventually develop close friendships with other immigrants, with whom they could leave their children.

fidelitocortes — 2024-05-16 03:10:04 UTC

I wish you much success in both programs, which will provide you with optimal preparation to be a fantastic pediatric nurse or NP. And if you're looking for another challenge after pediatric nursing, you might want to consider becoming a public health nurse, where your education background would also be very valuable.

fidelitocortes — 2024-05-16 03:13:52 UTC

It's so beneficial for immigrants to live in a community with those of their own kind, who share their culture and values, and especially food. You and your family are lucky indeed.