If you grew up with poor immigrant parents?

[Anonymous]

Who didn't speak any english and didn't really push education but just told you to do what you loved. Specifically if you're latino/a and grew up with non english speaking parents how did you get your start in life and do you make more money than them now? What is your education level and are you fluent in Spanish? also, don't answer if you're puerto rican (American).

[Anonymous]

I grew up with poor Asian immigrant parents who spoke little English. The difference between Asian and Latino culture is that Asian parents understand the critical role higher education plays in upward mobility. For Asian parents attending college is not enough - you must earn a STEM degree from a prominent university. This is called “tough love” in our culture. Although it was rough growing up (working through HS/college, growing up in crime riddden hoods, etc) I’m thankful my parents kept me focused which enabled me to become independent wealthy and retire at age 50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with poor Asian immigrant parents who spoke little English. The difference between Asian and Latino culture is that Asian parents understand the critical role higher education plays in upward mobility. For Asian parents attending college is not enough - you must earn a STEM degree from a prominent university. This is called “tough love” in our culture. Although it was rough growing up (working through HS/college, growing up in crime riddden hoods, etc) I’m thankful my parents kept me focused which enabled me to become independent wealthy and retire at age 50.

This is pretty typical stories for Asian families (Far East Asian families anyway). Focus on education, work hard and stay together until you are over the humps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who didn't speak any english and didn't really push education but just told you to do what you loved. Specifically if you're latino/a and grew up with non english speaking parents how did you get your start in life and do you make more money than them now? What is your education level and are you fluent in Spanish? also, don't answer if you're puerto rican (American).

I'm not Latina but Asian. My parents didn't speak English and didn't push education but also didn't encourage us to do what we loved. They were neglectful so that gave me of time to be independent. I got an internship when I was 14 at a museum. I found other people to mentor me. Throughout life, find other mothers (or fathers). Be your own parent.

I'm an attorney now and I'm fluent in my parents' language.

[Anonymous]

East European parents, poor at first, but dad believed in the American Dream. Did night school, got into a trade/profession that allowed him to move up as fast as his ambition allowed. Became a millionaire in the early 80s (when a mill was a ton of money). Parents did not understand or even know how to support my career choices, but because I was female, encouraged me to be independent and not "need" a man for support. I've done well. Not as well as they did, but am fine.

[Anonymous]

East European parents, poor at first, but dad believed in the American Dream. Did night school, got into a trade/profession that allowed him to move up as fast as his ambition allowed. Became a millionaire in the early 80s (when a mill was a ton of money). Parents did not understand or even know how to support my career choices, but because I was female, encouraged me to be independent and not "need" a man for support. I've done well. Not as well as they did, but am fine.

[Anonymous]

Latina here! Grew up with poor immigrant parents, no English. Mom only reached a middle school education always insisted that our studies came first. Both parents saw education as a way to a better life, and low grades were not acceptable. Looking back, i know we were really lucky. Our parents were loving, prioritized education, gave us a stable environment and freedom to thrive, also they insisted we speak Spanish at home, which means we are all perfectly bilingual.

Finally, as a NYC kid I had great role-models (representation matters!) and tons of opportunities to attend camps, scholarships and internship opportunities for free. This put us on a path to successful college careers and now professional careers.

[Anonymous]

Similar to other East Asian posts up top. Poor, non english speaking. and shared 2 bedroom 1 bath apt with fam until we saved up enough for townhouse in a crappy town. We only had about $4K to our name when whole family moved. What helped me to be successful:

1) supportive parents - they worked a lot but there when I needed them. My dad was a structural engineer, gave it up to come to the states to be a cook at a crappy restaurant. He worked till 9:30pm most nights but was was there when I needed him to help with my math questions

2) They modeled a strong family unit. For me I always saw our family stuck together. No matter how tough life was. It was always the 4 of us. Always family first, and we always support each other.

3) They didn't quite emphasize education. They were mostly always too tired to worry too much about my grades, but I was mostly an A/B student. I knew that if I didn't do well in school, that I would not be able to get myself and my future kids away from the 12-9pm type of restaurant jobs I had since starting working weekends as a 15 year old. I actually ended up at community college for 2 years, transferred to top 10 university and graduated with a business degree.

I'm now only conversationally adequate in my native language as I moved here at 9. I make a pretty good living and our family's net worth prob about 6m. My kids live a worry free life, but I DO emphasize education and try to help when I can when they have questions. I joke that they are A-sians not B-sians. They know I care if they do well at school, but they also play plenty of video games, sports and spend time with friends. I worry that without any challenge in their lives, how they will turn out as adults, but I guess that's the worry free life I had worked for...ironically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who didn't speak any english and didn't really push education but just told you to do what you loved. Specifically if you're latino/a and grew up with non english speaking parents how did you get your start in life and do you make more money than them now? What is your education level and are you fluent in Spanish? also, don't answer if you're puerto rican (American).

I was friends with kids whose parents were NOT immigrants and they were very kind in giving me the same advice they gave their friends. Luckily I was smart enough to ignore my parents and listen to my friends and THEIR parents. Yes, I make more money than my parents who are probably still on welfare and food stamps. I have a bachelors degree. I used to be fluent in Spanish but moved out when I was 16 and stopped speaking it and have kind of lost the ability.

[Anonymous]

I’m East Asian and grew up with immigrant parents who did not do the typical Asian “tiger parent” thing. They were pretty hands off, neglectful, and uninvolved. I had other Asian friends, however, and kind of absorbed their family values. I got into a good college with a scholarship and had to figure out everything on my own. I resented that I neither had my own cultural advantages nor the advantages of the majority privileged class. I have worked hard to guide my own kids in a career and also transferring generational wealth (starting from my generation) so that they have the advantages of all the privileged class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who didn't speak any english and didn't really push education but just told you to do what you loved. Specifically if you're latino/a and grew up with non english speaking parents how did you get your start in life and do you make more money than them now? What is your education level and are you fluent in Spanish? also, don't answer if you're puerto rican (American).

Latina immigrant here, raised by Immigrant dad who worked two jobs most of life. I'm Fluent in Spanish (still got my accent)

I got a start in life by going to community college and then transferring to local University. My dad paid for college, I got loans and paid for university myself.

Got decent jobs and later married another Latino immigrant with similar path. We make combine income of 230k. Both fluent in Spanish.

#sisepuede

[Anonymous]

I'm west Indian and this is something I've always wondered. Immigrants from Africa, Middle Eastern, Asian push college especially STEM for their children.

When it comes to women studying stem it's mainly the women from countries that dont have much opportunities for women. Think arab, african, middle east, indian except latin america.

There was even a study showing that the less opportunities a girl has the more she is likely to study STEM except for Latin American women. I would like to know the history of education in Latin American nations to understand this. Even Chile which is a homogenous nation and is nowhere near the top at education.

My friend is a professor and he told me that Latin American parents tend to push labour but college will always be seen a superior in this nation.

I've wondered about this.

[Anonymous]

Another poor Asian immigrant kid. I had to translate for my parents everywhere, make phone calls for them and do all the paperwork. I still do this many decades later. I often wonder how they survived in this country. They seem so lost.

I absolutely hated being poor. My parents didn’t help me navigate anything. I wrote a pretty good essay about being poor and my dreams and it won me a bunch of scholarships. I went to college on a full ride but still took out loans so I could send my parents money to help pay their bills. I always had a job.

One thing that I notice that is different in Hispanic households is that the students and families may not try to go away for college. I had one coworker who was bright and taking forever to finish college. She lived at home with her mom and boyfriend and worked full time to pay bills. She must have been 27 or 28. If she had gone to a regular 4 year college, she would have qualified for financial aid and could have finished in 4 years instead of not being finished in 10. She also said she earned too much to get financial aid. I think it was because she went to school part time and not full time but I didn’t say anything.

Our Hispanic housekeeper has some amazing bright children. I am rooting for them. I know they stress about college costs. I had 100k in debt by the time I finished grad school. I had a high income that I was able to pay it off quickly.

[Anonymous]

Poor Eastern European immigrant parents here, no money and no guy English when we arrived (over 3 decades ago now). They did not, however, tell me to do what I loved - they insisted I go to college and get into a profession that made money. But how? That part was up to me. My parents are loving and supportive but at that time they were just trying to survive in a new country and pay the bills. They didn’t understand the process and had no time to figure it out.

I was on my own in terms of grades, extracurriculars, figuring out how to apply for college, financial aid, etc. I went to a local state school, lived at home, took 15 credits a semester, worked 20 hours a week as a receptionist, had no car as I couldn’t afford one so spent two hours each day on the bus. No social life, no parties, and definitely not the typical college experience.

I have a pretty decent job that pays well and a nice life. I am thankful. It has been a grind though - doing it with no guidance and no connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm west Indian and this is something I've always wondered. Immigrants from Africa, Middle Eastern, Asian push college especially STEM for their children.

When it comes to women studying stem it's mainly the women from countries that dont have much opportunities for women. Think arab, african, middle east, indian except latin america.

There was even a study showing that the less opportunities a girl has the more she is likely to study STEM except for Latin American women. I would like to know the history of education in Latin American nations to understand this. Even Chile which is a homogenous nation and is nowhere near the top at education.

My friend is a professor and he told me that Latin American parents tend to push labour but college will always be seen a superior in this nation.

I've wondered about this.

What is an “West Indian”? Is this a new thing?