Ms. Jimenez came to the country about two years ago from the Dominican Republic, seeking and advocating for her daughter and herself in The United States of America, a country known as the Land of Opportunities; where people can grow both professionally and economically to become someone to the American society. But, this is not a process that one achieves in a matter of days, it can be hard, and some will face many challenges, especially as a mother. “I faced many barriers when I came here, the lifestyle, and cultural aspects, but the one that affected me the most was the language barrier. I can understand English but I struggle speaking it, it can be a lot while also making sure my daughter was doing well in developing herself in school and her social life, as well as a myself,” Ana confirms. Ana’s journey is not without difficulties, with occasional encounters of discrimination due to her accent and mispronunciations. However, she refuses to let these obstacles dampen her spirit and she accepts her accent as a testament to her rich cultural heritage.
Maintaining one’s heritage is important especially when moving to a new country that does not share the same background as you. Therefore, it is important to always keep in mind who you are, where you came from, and make sure you pass this gift through your upcoming generations. Ana practices maintaining her cultural identity through visiting her country, and celebrating her national celebrations like the Dominican Independence Day and “Carnaval,” but most of all still speaking Spanish with her relatives and at home to not forget her first language.
Many immigrant parents make sacrifices for their children, she defines the immigrant community as hard-working and brave souls driven by the desire to create a better life for themselves and their families. “We came here mostly by ourselves looking for a better future for ourselves and our families and we are capable of going through so many things that could wreck us, but we managed to, yet still overcome these obstacles,” Ms. Jimenez states. For many Hispanic families like Ana’s, the pursuit of education and job opportunities serves as the main reason why most families tend to immigrate to the U.S. “I just hope for my children to be good people, prepared adults both in life and professionally, doing the things they love, and never worrying about the things that I had to go through as a parent,” she emphasizes.
Ana’s hopes and aspirations for her children encapsulate the dreams of many immigrant parents striving to provide a better future for their upcoming generations. She shared, “The advice I would give to the parents in the immigrant community is to maintain yourself focused on the goal, things get better, we develop ourselves for the extreme better, and even though at times it can be hard it’ll all be worth it in the end when you see your children walking pass that stage and getting that diploma.” Despite the challenges one may face along the way, determination and resilience like Ana’s serves as an example of the enduring spirit of the immigrant community.
