Lifelong protectors learning to rely on others
"Family comes first – because that’s all we have." These words from my mother represent foundational principles I refuse to compromise. As a young child, this phrase always hovered over me, telling me how to act and treat others, what to value in life, and most importantly, who to protect. During challenging times, this standard seemed like an insurmountable task—I was just a kid trying to do normal kid things while also bearing the responsibilities of an adult. Living up to this phrase required me to step up to any occasion that called me to action. It meant embracing challenges with courage whenever the situation demanded my involvement, despite the genuine fear I had in the moment. Because of this phrase, I often found myself on the frontlines of my family’s problems, hoping every conflict would be resolved with the best solution possible but always preparing for the unexpected. Today, like many other first-generation professionals from mixed-status households , I struggl...