4 | feature / the standard / may 2021
TWOCollide worlds Immigrants and first-generation Americans shed light on their experiences and living in the United States
he definition of being American encompasses a diverse population and the colorful blend of cultures the country is built upon. People immigrate to the United States for a wide variety of reasons and begin a new chapter of their lives. Spanish teacher Alejandra Alana said she first arrived in Ohio when she was around 27 years old, with the intent of completing her higher education. “I had graduated from college and had some work experience, but I decided I wanted to go back to school to get my Master’s and I got accepted into a program at Miami University of Ohio,” Alana said. “I was supposed to [return home] after three years but that is exactly when the whole political situation in Venezuela erupted, and I decided it would be best for me if I stayed. I didn’t think there would be a future for me in Venezuela if things continued to go south, like they did, so I stayed ever since.” A portion of the population identifies as first-generation American because they were born after their parents immigrated to the United States. Many first-generation Americans grow up embracing their parents’ customs and ideals, as well as adapting to the American lifestyle. Senior Sean Khan said his household
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functions differently from others' because his parents come from different backgrounds, influencing their parenting styles and values. “My father immigrated from India and my mother, Pakistan,” Khan said. “Of course my parents are bringing with them their culture and traditional teachings. Our family dynamic is much less Americanized in the sense that there is a difference between the two cultures and it is more like integrating cultures than just having one existing.” Senior Sarah Lee said she had to discover and adopt aspects of American culture on her own as a result of being a first-generation American. “My dad immigrated from Malaysia and my mom immigrated from Taiwan,” Lee said. “Obviously, my parents haven’t lived in America for their whole lives, so in terms of culture, I’ve just had to pick up on stuff myself instead of being raised that way and having my parents teach me.” First-generation Americans are often linked both with their parents’ native countries, as well as the United States, creating a sense of confusion. Lee said she has struggled to be comfortable in her own skin and come to terms with her cultural identity. “Both my sisters grew up speaking
photo courtesy of Spanish teacher Alejandra Alana
Chinese as their first language, but by the time I was born, we had been living in America for a while so I was raised speaking English,” Lee said. “I feel a little bit disconnected in both aspects in that I am not completely connected with my Asian culture but I’m really not American either.” Sophomore Kanika Radadiya said both her parents came to the United States from India and despite preserving a strong connection with her heritage, she still questions how to behave depending on the social environment she is in. “Being Indian comes first, so sometimes it’s kind of like, do I act a certain way to fit in here or do I act another way?” Radadiya said. “It’s a seesaw type of situation a lot of the time. There are certain struggles of trying to fit into the culture and also see my points of view as well as my parents’ views.” However, cultural identity is highly impacted by how people are raised and what beliefs they personally hold and wish to carry forward with them. Khan said he solely identifies with being an American because it is all he has ever known. “I am 100% American even if my cultural heritage is of a different country,” Khan said. “I was born and raised here and I learned everything about here.
