With graduation season in full swing, immigrant graduates and children of immigrants across the country are reflecting on the roads and people who led them to where they are today.
Last week, Define American ― a non-profit media and culture organization― partnered with Undocumedia to put out a call on social media encouraging graduates from immigrant families to share their personal stories using #ImmiGrad. The class of 2017 quickly obliged, posting sweet photos, touching anecdotes and heartwarming messages thanking their parents for their support, dedication and love.
Grab a box of tissues, and check out some of their posts below.
"Cuando uno de nosotros tenemos éxito, todos tenemos éxito."❤ "When one of us succeeds, we all succeed."❤ – Hay dos razones por las que puse esto en mi birrete de graduacion: 1.Lo hermoso de la cultura Latina es que cuando uno de nosotros tiene éxito, toda la comunidad está orgullosa. 2.No estaría aquí hoy graduandome de la universidad si no fuera por mis entrenadores, mis profesores, mis amigas, mis compañeras de clase. Pero especialmente, yo no estaría aquí sin la gente especial en mi corazón: Mis padres. Ellos emigraron del #CerritoColorado, Michoacán, México. Llegaron a este país sin poder hablar una palabra de inglés. Ellos hicieron muchos sacrificios, trabajaron múltiples trabajos para poder cuidar de mis hermanas y yo. Lo que si recuerdo de mi infancia es que incluso cuando no teníamos mucho, nos hicieron sentir que teníamos todo lo que necesitábamos. También quiero dar las gracias a mis hermanas:Azucena, Cecilia, María y Rosi que siempre han estado a mi lado y me compraron una bolsa de Cheto de Chilies de vez en cuando. Por último, quiero dar gracias a mi novio Jordy, que ha estado a mi lado durante las buenas y las malas. ¡Gracias a todos! – There are 2 reasons why I put this on my graduation cap: 1.The beautiful thing about the Latino culture is that when one of us succeeds, the whole community is proud. 2.I wouldn't be here today graduating college of it wasn't for my coaches, my professors my friends, the OT girls in the program, but especially to the special people in my heart: My parents who immigrated from El Cerrito Colorado, Michoacán, México. They came here speaking no English, who made a lot of sacrifices for my sisters and I, and who worked multiple jobs. The one thing I can say I remember about my childhood is that even when we didn’t have much, they made us feel like we had everything we needed. And a shoutout to my sisters Azucena, Cecilia, Maria, and Rosi who have always been there for me and bought me an occasional bag of Hot Cheetos. And finally a big thank you to my boyfriend Jordy who put was there for me during the good days and the bad days. Thank you everyone! One more year of Grad school until I'm a therapist! #CSMGrad
A post shared by Andrea Saavedra-Garcia (@andreaa_saavedraa) on May 20, 2017 at 3:56pm PDT
The cap says it all ft. @hatecopy Today, my brother and I celebrate our crown givers, our immigrant parents. Today we graduated. We're not living the American Dream, we're living the Immigrant Dream. I never imagined my father would sacrifice his health for me so that I could get an education. During my first semester at Sac State, my father was diagnosed with a diabetic eye disease. I cannot express to you the guilt I felt after finding out. My father did not want to spend a dime on his health because he wanted to put my brother & I through school. My father suffered in silence, he kept his vision troubles to himself until one day he almost crashed his truck into oncoming traffic. My father does not have the most glamorous job. He is a farm worker that loves what he does, but with diabetes it is hard to love a job that is harsh on your body. I feel as if God has a special way of nudging us in life. If God didn't step in when he did then today my father would be blind; meaning my father wouldn't have been able to see my brother and I walk across the stage. I will be honest, I am amazed at how I got here today, but then again I know why I am here today. If my father could push through the pain, as I know he did –then I can easily place a college degree in his hardworking hands. Our parents suffer in silence so we can be blessed with success. On many occasions, I have held my father when his blood sugar was too low. On many occasions, I have been a witness to his pain. On many occasions, I have felt guilty because I wished to be the one suffering instead. When I say that I am proud to be the daughter of immigrants, I do not say this lightly. I am charmed to the moon to say that I will be the first person out of my family to go to grad school this fall. These last 5 years have been a journey, but we made it Ma & Dad! Much love & Light to the class of 2017 P.S @SacState this daughter of immigrants still has more to offer, see you in the fall ______________ #StingersUp #MadeAtSacState #SacState #GradCap #GradSchool #Immigrants #Indian #India #SouthAsian #Sikh #Graduation #Diabetes #Diabetic #SacstateGrad #immigrad
A post shared by Jassi Bassi (@jassi.kbassi) on May 20, 2017 at 7:19pm PDT
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