Personal Narrative: My First Generation Haitian-American College Student

Being a daughter of immigrant parents has never been easy here in America. Both my parents worked excessively hard to be financially stable. Unfortunately at the age of ten my life changed. I learned that my parents no longer loved each other. The arguing and fighting my parents had, only damaged me emotionally. I was too young to grasp the idea that my parents were separating which become one of the hardest times for my mom to maintain my siblings and I. Shortly after, I began attending church and fell in love with the idea of getting closer to God. Luckily, my life took an enormous turn the moment I gave my life to Christ. God has opened numerous opportunities for my education. I am proud of all the accomplishments I have achieved in high

A paradigm I have come to believe from my years growing up in a Caribbean household to parents with limited education is that there is something wrong with Americans. I am first generation American and that is something my mother claimed to regret even now in my adult years. Growing up I can distinctly remember my mother always saying that there is something wrong with Americans.It was when she would watch some disturbing story on the news, or when her family would call updating about some latest scandal, it was anytime she found something wrong with the world then something was wrong with America.

As of 2015 the U.S Census Bureau revealed that approximately 116 million families are living in the United States. These families possess their own unique style, culture and set of beliefs. My family, consisting of my married parents and my older sister, are no different in the aspect that we too hold our own set of beliefs. The socially constructed term ‘family’ traditionally is defined as a unit that is related by marriage or blood, share financial responsibilities and care for any children/dependents (Lofquist et al., 2012). Growing up as a Haitian American, my ideas of what it means to be a family have been greatly influenced by my cultures and my religion. The Haitian culture greatly emphasizes family relationships and familial

It is not uncommon to hear one recount their latest family reunion or trip with their cousins, but being a first generation immigrant, I sacrificed the luxury of taking my relatives for granted for the security of building a life in America. My parents, my brother, and I are the only ones in my family who live in the United States, thus a trip to India to visit my extended family after 4 years was an exciting yet overwhelming experience. Throughout the trip, I felt like a stranger in the country where I was born as so many things were unfamiliar, but there were a few places that reminded me of my childhood.

I am fluent in both Spanish and English, I am also well aware of the Latino-American experience in the United States. I have been raised in the Los Angeles area since the age of seven and thus, I am particularly sensitive to my Latino/Latina (Hispanic) patients, and their unique medical needs. In the most practical terms, I will be able to reach out to my Latino/a patients in their native language, and thereby increasing the accuracy of treatment, reducing error and increasing my patients sense of importance and relevance in their healing process. Chiropractic medicine would provide me with the balance between the holistic approach to the patient care, a complete understanding of the physiology and biomechanics of the body, and a constant observation

January 1st, 2001, I was born to be first. Two hours before I was delivered, the University of Washington came first in the Rose Bowl. Being born on such a good day, my parents believed I was a lucky baby. They became convinced that I would have amazing fortune in the future and would come first in all competitions and trials life had for me. However, being first also meant I’d be the first one to face obstacles.

I faced academic adversity when I moved to the United States in July 2010. I failed to enroll at the University of Colorado in the fall of 2010 because of lack of sufficient funds. I tried to process loans but could not process any loans because I didn’t have a Permanent Resident status at that time. I had no family or close friends that I could borrow money from since I had just moved to the United States. My desire to accomplish my goal led me to start looking for ways to pay for college. I had the drive, determination, patience and a positive attitude so; I started collecting enough funds by working several jobs. A year later, I enrolled into the university and could only afford to register for a three credit hour class. I was persistent

I am an African American. You must be wondering what’s my name since im “black”, you might be thinking that its ghetto, right? No need to know where I came from, you must think that I come from the projects right? It’s not like it’s important to you. You probably think that my future plans are that I won’t finished high school and that I will become pregnant. One look at the color of my skin is all it takes. Right? Look again.

Growing up, I’ve struggle becoming a successful African American male from Detroit. I have been through racial barriers because of my skin complexion. I have been scrutinized heavily just because of my skin color. However, my skin tone is just a physical feature and it does not determine the upcoming success I will have later in life. However, I have an excessive amount of plans that I will conquer to succeed without a doubt. My first priority for my future after my life in high school is to attend Michigan State University. When I received my decision letter and found out that I was accepted to my dream school on December 8, 2017. I knew that my future was not an imagination anymore. My future came became a reality. Furthermore, my first step is to further my education at one of Michigan’s top schools for medicine.

Financial assistance is essential for me to make my dreams a reality. Scholarships will allow me to follow my academic dreams without the crushing burden of student loans or the excessive weight of having to work while taking courses. Being a young Hispanic female, and as a minority in this country, there is a great need I can help to fill. I see how many Hispanic men and women need

I was raised in a environment of Generations after Generations of parents grandparents and family members that had a disadvantage of attending College because lack of finical funds and knowledge of the importance of college. My fathers parents lived the American dream by coming to america from Mexico to have a surpassing life. By hard work and little education they became property owners and raised three kids. My mothers parents had children right out of high school and were considerd poor but with hard and dedication

Being an immigrant and coming from a poor family, money has always been an issue in my life. Barely having the money to pay for the rent and bills each month, it makes life very complicated and frustrating for my family. I’m writing this statement to you because I’m afraid I will not have enough money to cover for my tuition as I enroll in Hamline University this fall. With the lack of money, it means that I would have to take a lot of loans which I don’t want to do because I don’t want to work the rest of my life just trying to pay off my loan debt. I desperately need your help because if I don’t go to college this year, I will have to wait another semester again.

I am fortunate enough to be the first generation of two immigrant parents, and while that seems unlucky to most people, it is one of my reasons for wanting to serve. My parents moved here when they were children and did not have the luxury of being US citizens for a long time, but they were able to benefit from a new lifestyle that included having healthcare, a better education, and more opportunities for a better life. Through this they were able to give me the best life possible without having to worry about some of the same struggles they had as a kid in a third world country. As a child of immigrant parents I benefited from the US making my parents citizens and it would be a great honor to be able to give back to my country for everything

At a young age, my grandmother came to this country to find a better life and make something of herself. Being a young Latina in The United States, she was faced with many struggles and hardships. Although it felt like everything was against her, she pushed through it all so that she and her five kids could have a life full of love, accomplishments, and opportunity. She was a pioneer being that she was the first of her family to arrive to the United States as an immigrant, leaving everything she knew behind. She had no other option but to go through life’s struggles in order to make a life for her kids, and the generations ahead.

I have worked hard and done as much as I can to contribute towards the paying of my education. Not only have I applied for numerous scholarships,