If you grew up with poor immigrant parents?

[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).

Curious why you think responses from Puerto Rican Americans are invalid? Also, are you not interested in other perspective aside from those who are Spanish speaking? If not, how come?

[Anonymous]

Here’s one interesting opportunity for a Hispanic high school student:

https://latino.si.edu/yap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Seriously? You’ve never heard of the “west indies”?? Aka the Caribbean!

Is there a “central Indian” ethnicity also?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m Hispanic and do not understand your diatribe.

One female cousin is a physician and another a microbiologist. My aunt a pharmacist. Another aunt was a nurse. My cousin’s daughter is pursuing a graduate physics degree from a top university.

No, we didn’t all go into sciences. There are a few educators and a few who went into policy / law. All female.

There are plenty of women who go into scientific fields in Latin America. Your example - Chile - actually had a female president (before the U.S. of course) who was a physician.

DP.

Hispanic women are underrepresented in STEM. All you have to do is Google and you'll see the stats. Awesome for your family but that is not the norm.
Also, Google what a diatribe is before you post a defensive reply because that was not it.

[Anonymous]

My parents were newly arrived from a southern european country when I was born. Were poor when I was young, but no longer so by the time I went to college (I did not qualify for any financial aid). Father has a middle school education, mother had finished HS. They worked factory jobs and then scraped enough money together to buy a strip-mall restaurant. They were fond of a saying similar to, "If you don't learn how to push a pencil, you will have no choice but to push a mop." I was not encouraged to "do what I love", but was encouraged to seek out a career that interested me but still had a good income potential (i.e. STEM). I went into engineering. I was encouraged to be good about managing my money and to be thrifty. I am fluent in their native language - my kids understand the language and can speak a few words.

[Anonymous]

I'm a first generation Taiwanese-American who never spoke English in the home. I was a toddler when we came and my brother was born soon after our arrival. By American standards, my parents earned lower middle class incomes and never lost their accents. Our finances were tight enough that my brother and I earned/paid the entire family contributions for our college financial aid packages. But, our parents attended the top college in Taiwan where they studied social sciences. We didn't own very many books but we went to the public library as often as the grocery store. Our family vacations were road trips and we only stayed at crappy roadside motels, but we visited almost every state in the lower 48. They invited nearly everyone they met to dinner at our little house from my elementary school custodian to my college advisor and hundreds of random strangers and that taught us to treat every guest with the same high respect and appreciation. My parents never pushed us towards STEM or any particular occupation or to make money because they believed we should do what excited us. When I got into skateboarding, my dad snuck into an empty pool to see my tricks. And my mom would listen to my brother's favorite albums just to learn about what he liked. Grades didn't matter nearly as much as our intellectual curiosity, kindness, character and social well-being. I doubt that they'd have been wealthier back in Taiwan but they certainly would have had higher social status. We received little in the way of material advantages, but they cultivated an openness to new experiences and ideas and an appreciation for the great diversity of America. I think those attitudes from our upbringing were instrumental in our academic and career success. My sibling and I are trying to give our kids the kind of upbringing we had and we have wondered whether the advantages we have now makes it harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a first generation Taiwanese-American who never spoke English in the home. I was a toddler when we came and my brother was born soon after our arrival. By American standards, my parents earned lower middle class incomes and never lost their accents. Our finances were tight enough that my brother and I earned/paid the entire family contributions for our college financial aid packages. But, our parents attended the top college in Taiwan where they studied social sciences. We didn't own very many books but we went to the public library as often as the grocery store. Our family vacations were road trips and we only stayed at crappy roadside motels, but we visited almost every state in the lower 48. They invited nearly everyone they met to dinner at our little house from my elementary school custodian to my college advisor and hundreds of random strangers and that taught us to treat every guest with the same high respect and appreciation. My parents never pushed us towards STEM or any particular occupation or to make money because they believed we should do what excited us. When I got into skateboarding, my dad snuck into an empty pool to see my tricks. And my mom would listen to my brother's favorite albums just to learn about what he liked. Grades didn't matter nearly as much as our intellectual curiosity, kindness, character and social well-being. I doubt that they'd have been wealthier back in Taiwan but they certainly would have had higher social status. We received little in the way of material advantages, but they cultivated an openness to new experiences and ideas and an appreciation for the great diversity of America. I think those attitudes from our upbringing were instrumental in our academic and career success. My sibling and I are trying to give our kids the kind of upbringing we had and we have wondered whether the advantages we have now makes it harder.

This both really resonates and contrasts with my experience -- also first generation Asian American with a similar frugal, library-filled upbringing, except (1) my family cared about grades and pushed us to "do what we love as long as it's in STEM (high paying/stable)", (2) parents made it to UMC in our teens and could afford to send my sister and me to HYP undergrad + grad schools, and (3) my dad in particular was not a particularly kind, social or open person to those outside our family -- I think being an immigrant with language struggles made him a bit paranoid, even though he absolutely prefers living in America.

While my sister and I are both outwardly well educated and financially successful adults, we have a lot of mental health / career / existential issues from our upbringing that we're still working through (and is partly what leads me to read DCUM forums like this even though I don't think it's very healthy for me ). Luckily DH's upbringing was more like yours and we're hoping to build stronger, healthier values for our own little family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a first generation Taiwanese-American who never spoke English in the home. I was a toddler when we came and my brother was born soon after our arrival. By American standards, my parents earned lower middle class incomes and never lost their accents. Our finances were tight enough that my brother and I earned/paid the entire family contributions for our college financial aid packages. But, our parents attended the top college in Taiwan where they studied social sciences. We didn't own very many books but we went to the public library as often as the grocery store. Our family vacations were road trips and we only stayed at crappy roadside motels, but we visited almost every state in the lower 48. They invited nearly everyone they met to dinner at our little house from my elementary school custodian to my college advisor and hundreds of random strangers and that taught us to treat every guest with the same high respect and appreciation. My parents never pushed us towards STEM or any particular occupation or to make money because they believed we should do what excited us. When I got into skateboarding, my dad snuck into an empty pool to see my tricks. And my mom would listen to my brother's favorite albums just to learn about what he liked. Grades didn't matter nearly as much as our intellectual curiosity, kindness, character and social well-being. I doubt that they'd have been wealthier back in Taiwan but they certainly would have had higher social status. We received little in the way of material advantages, but they cultivated an openness to new experiences and ideas and an appreciation for the great diversity of America. I think those attitudes from our upbringing were instrumental in our academic and career success. My sibling and I are trying to give our kids the kind of upbringing we had and we have wondered whether the advantages we have now makes it harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m Hispanic and do not understand your diatribe.

One female cousin is a physician and another a microbiologist. My aunt a pharmacist. Another aunt was a nurse. My cousin’s daughter is pursuing a graduate physics degree from a top university.

No, we didn’t all go into sciences. There are a few educators and a few who went into policy / law. All female.

There are plenty of women who go into scientific fields in Latin America. Your example - Chile - actually had a female president (before the U.S. of course) who was a physician.

Exceptions do not make the rule. African Americans and Hispanics are extremely under representatives
I’m the stem. Please stop playing willfully obtuse and getting offended by facts. I say this as someone who is African American.

I really have pondered about this topic, sincerely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m Hispanic and do not understand your diatribe.

One female cousin is a physician and another a microbiologist. My aunt a pharmacist. Another aunt was a nurse. My cousin’s daughter is pursuing a graduate physics degree from a top university.

No, we didn’t all go into sciences. There are a few educators and a few who went into policy / law. All female.

There are plenty of women who go into scientific fields in Latin America. Your example - Chile - actually had a female president (before the U.S. of course) who was a physician.

Exceptions do not make the rule. African Americans and Hispanics are extremely under representatives
I’m the stem. Please stop playing willfully obtuse and getting offended by facts. I say this as someone who is African American.

I really have pondered about this topic, sincerely.

DP here. This might be shocking to you but Latin American countries are full of engineers, scientists, doctors, etc…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m Hispanic and do not understand your diatribe.

One female cousin is a physician and another a microbiologist. My aunt a pharmacist. Another aunt was a nurse. My cousin’s daughter is pursuing a graduate physics degree from a top university.

No, we didn’t all go into sciences. There are a few educators and a few who went into policy / law. All female.

There are plenty of women who go into scientific fields in Latin America. Your example - Chile - actually had a female president (before the U.S. of course) who was a physician.

Exceptions do not make the rule. African Americans and Hispanics are extremely under representatives
I’m the stem. Please stop playing willfully obtuse and getting offended by facts. I say this as someone who is African American.

I really have pondered about this topic, sincerely.

DP here. This might be shocking to you but Latin American countries are full of engineers, scientists, doctors, etc…

Dp. Who is talking about Latin American countries? Immigrants who had a prestigious title back in their country have blue collar titles in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a first generation Taiwanese-American who never spoke English in the home. I was a toddler when we came and my brother was born soon after our arrival. By American standards, my parents earned lower middle class incomes and never lost their accents. Our finances were tight enough that my brother and I earned/paid the entire family contributions for our college financial aid packages. But, our parents attended the top college in Taiwan where they studied social sciences. We didn't own very many books but we went to the public library as often as the grocery store. Our family vacations were road trips and we only stayed at crappy roadside motels, but we visited almost every state in the lower 48. They invited nearly everyone they met to dinner at our little house from my elementary school custodian to my college advisor and hundreds of random strangers and that taught us to treat every guest with the same high respect and appreciation. My parents never pushed us towards STEM or any particular occupation or to make money because they believed we should do what excited us. When I got into skateboarding, my dad snuck into an empty pool to see my tricks. And my mom would listen to my brother's favorite albums just to learn about what he liked. Grades didn't matter nearly as much as our intellectual curiosity, kindness, character and social well-being. I doubt that they'd have been wealthier back in Taiwan but they certainly would have had higher social status. We received little in the way of material advantages, but they cultivated an openness to new experiences and ideas and an appreciation for the great diversity of America. I think those attitudes from our upbringing were instrumental in our academic and career success. My sibling and I are trying to give our kids the kind of upbringing we had and we have wondered whether the advantages we have now makes it harder.

This both really resonates and contrasts with my experience -- also first generation Asian American with a similar frugal, library-filled upbringing, except (1) my family cared about grades and pushed us to "do what we love as long as it's in STEM (high paying/stable)", (2) parents made it to UMC in our teens and could afford to send my sister and me to HYP undergrad + grad schools, and (3) my dad in particular was not a particularly kind, social or open person to those outside our family -- I think being an immigrant with language struggles made him a bit paranoid, even though he absolutely prefers living in America.

While my sister and I are both outwardly well educated and financially successful adults, we have a lot of mental health / career / existential issues from our upbringing that we're still working through (and is partly what leads me to read DCUM forums like this even though I don't think it's very healthy for me ). Luckily DH's upbringing was more like yours and we're hoping to build stronger, healthier values for our own little family.

It's impressive that your dad struggled with the language but yet made it to umc in your teens. What was your parents occupations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This both really resonates and contrasts with my experience -- also first generation Asian American with a similar frugal, library-filled upbringing, except (1) my family cared about grades and pushed us to "do what we love as long as it's in STEM (high paying/stable)", (2) parents made it to UMC in our teens and could afford to send my sister and me to HYP undergrad + grad schools, and (3) my dad in particular was not a particularly kind, social or open person to those outside our family -- I think being an immigrant with language struggles made him a bit paranoid, even though he absolutely prefers living in America.

While my sister and I are both outwardly well educated and financially successful adults, we have a lot of mental health / career / existential issues from our upbringing that we're still working through (and is partly what leads me to read DCUM forums like this even though I don't think it's very healthy for me ). Luckily DH's upbringing was more like yours and we're hoping to build stronger, healthier values for our own little family.

Maybe that's the difference between economic immigrants -- those who decide to come to America with a dream to become rich -- and those that immigrate because they dream of American values like democracy, freedom of thought, and self-determination. There are many successful immigrant businesses that require enormous grit and hard work, but require little integration with the larger society. I was surprised by how many Asians I met in in college whose families got wealthy with a chain of laundromats or gas stations or convenience stores. If you come here just to get rich, you're a lot more likely to cling to "old world" thinking and counter the difficulties and discrimination you encounter with cultural defensiveness and immigrant community isolation. But, if you come because you choose an idealized vision of American values over your native society and culture, you're going to reach for the new and put yourself out to experience all the things that America offers that aren't available back "home." Rather than fear what America will do to your kids and force them to fit into the narrow routes to "success" you perceive, you encourage them to find their own paths, however unconventional.

[Anonymous]

Asian-American here, and my parents were refugees. They didn't know much, but they knew to save money when you can, and work hard at school. I'm definitely making more than my parents did, because they still don't have much. I'm not making as much as I would like, but I live a comfortable life.

However, I don't think it's necessarily true that you need to work hard if you have other skills in lieu of it. It seems that people who are great communicators, network aggressively, and are proactive in their success get farther a lot faster. They're also generally agreeable people, especially if you're a POC.

Some of the lessons I've learned the hard way is what I'm trying to pass on to my children. I'm trying to put them in activities where they can learn to communicate and not be shy when speaking in front of others. Also, trying to accrue generational wealth for them as well.