Someone who helped you open the door to a particular form of language or knowledge that was previously closed to me is that My parents. Being an immigrant comes with many challenges. I have had to become comfortable speaking English, decipher what people meant when they spoke, and navigate the American school system. It has been more difficult for my parent to adjust to this country. However, they left everything behind and came to this country only for me so that I can get opportunities and utilize them. While ‘Hello’, ‘sorry’, ‘thank you’ are my day-to-day words, my parents are quiet when somebody says these words to them. Still, my dad encourages me continually, “You have it hard, I know. Remember your entire family is here to help you.” My dad underpins our family of four with unsteady basic work, which is the main employment he can discover. My mom additionally is a non-English-talking housewife who has dedicated herself to my brother and me.
Growing up in Bengali culture, my parents are always homestyle. They grew up in a sense only to live like a Bengali. Being a Bengali, I likewise experienced childhood in the sense to contain only Bengali culture however, now I need to adjust as both Bengali and American as well. Since I find those open doors that I never found in my country, my parents still supporting me to take the advantage of every opportunity that is available for me in the future and present as well. I am blessed with a family that has supported my ambitious academic and social pursuits. My parents have always worked hard to provide me with attractive developmental opportunities, be it a good employee, a businessman, or a contributor to social activities.
Thank you, Tanzid: you show the deep loyalty and care that still ties you to your parents, and your willingness to help them navigate a difficult and mystifying language environment.
I can totally relate to you on everything about this post, from when you said your parents are your literacy sponsor to when you said being an immigrant comes with many challenges. It really was extremely difficult to adjust to a new life in New York City as a child being a South Asian immigrant because like you said, we had to get used to the American school system and find our way through it, which personally for me was extremely diffcult given the fact that I went to an all girls catholic school back in Sri Lanka. However, no matter how many challenges came with the journey, I’ll always be grateful and devoted to my parents for packing up their entire life in a couple of suitcases and moving across the world just to give us a good life full of opportunities.