Welcome back, First Gens, and happy October! As we enter into this new month, we also dive into a new topic. This topic is something that might hit home for so many of us and that is the first-gen immigration journey. Whether you’re an immigrant yourself or the child of immigrants, this experience is all about resilience, sacrifice, and figuring out how to balance two worlds.
Let’s talk a little bit about the numbers first and then we’ll get unto what the journey may look like for some of us. The U.S. has always been a hub for immigrants, with more people coming here from all over the world than any other country. In 2021, over 5.6 million students in U.S. colleges came from immigrant families, including 3.7 million U.S.-born students with immigrant parents and 1.9 million immigrant students. Pretty incredible, right? These numbers show just how much immigrant families are contributing to education and making up our country as we know it.
We also want to talk for a minute about DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that’s incredibly important for so many first-gen students. It was created in 2012 to protect those who came to the U.S. as children from deportation and allowed them to work legally. But unfortunately, in September 2023, a court decision found DACA unlawful, meaning no new applications are being accepted right now. While this is heartbreaking for so many, those who had DACA before July 2021 can still renew their status. We’ll be hearing from DACA recipients later this season, so stay tuned for their powerful stories. To learn more about DACA please visit
https://www.uscis.gov/DACA.
The First-Gen Immigration Journey
But what’s it really like being a first-gen immigrant or the child of immigrants? A lot of us live a life “on the hyphen,” or caught between the culture of our family’s homeland and trying to find our place in the country we now call home. It’s not always easy. We deal with language barriers, cultural clashes, and the pressure to fit in while still holding on to our roots. Sometimes, it even feels like we’re living two different lives: one at home and another in the outside world. This can take a toll on our mental health. It’s totally normal to feel proud of where we come from while also feeling a lot of pressure to succeed. Many of us are dealing with school, work, and helping our families with things like figuring out the bills or how to get a cell phone to work. It’s a lot, but we do it, and we persevere.
So, as we move further along throughout the month and this new theme, I want you to think about your own journey. Are you making yourself proud? Not your family, but YOU? Sometimes, putting yourself first is the best way to honor the sacrifices your family made. Ultimately, it will make them proud too, because that’s what they came here for. I cannot wait to share more stories about the immigration experience throughout this month, and for you to hear from our amazing guests. Just remember, you’re not doing this alone! You’ve always got a Madrina in your corner.
The First Gen Madrina
If you are a University, College, Company or Organization, The First Gen Madrina offers workshops on a variety of topics (such as imposter syndrome, time management, managing burnout, building a self-care plan, etc..), custom built mentorship programs as well as customized services tailored to the needs of the client.
Join Sara, The First Gen Madrina, for individual coaching and/or group coaching. The journey can often feel lonely but that does not mean that you are alone! Check out the Our Services tab on our website for more information! http://thefirstgenmadrina.com
In order to follow along, remember to rate, review, and subscribe to The First Gen Madrina Podcast to stay connected. Also, follow on instagram and LinkedIn @thefirstgenmadrina and Sara Diaz, LCSW. Sara acknowledges that the term first gen can be fluid, so The First Gen Madrina is committed to supporting all first gens! This isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about providing unwavering support that propels individuals to embrace life’s challenges and triumphs.
In conclusion, stay tuned to meet amazing first-generation guests for the podcast, endless topics related to the first-gen experience and transformational coaching! Sara is your go to Madrina for all things first gen!
¡Hasta pronto!
Sara, The First Gen Madrina
