Dear daughter of immigrants,

Everything they’ve told you is a lie. They told you that your brown eyes would never see a future so high that you felt you could fly. They told you that your thick accent would never be a voice that is heard, but here you are, not listening to a single one of their words. They said a child of immigrants could never make it in the world, but around all the obstacles faced, you twirled. They said that most of us were dropouts or criminals, but our determination turned out to be unsinkable.

So young brown girl, when you spread your wings, remember what your mother and father used to sing. They said mija, your brown eyes will captivate and lead, so let your imagination run at full speed. They said that your thick accent would be the muse to peoples’ ears, that you would speak the words that made them cheer. They told you that being a child of immigrants is a blessing, that it led to the heart of gold that you grew up possessing.

Young brown girl, when you feel lost, remember everything you experienced and everything that it cost. For being a child of immigrants is not an easy task, but it prepared you to make a difference that would last. When you feel as if the world is beating you down, remind yourself that they never said it was going to be easy to receive the crown. When your chances begin to seem small, remember that you have survived through it all.

Because yes young brown girl, one day your brown eyes will see a world so bright, all because your parents never stopped encouraging your light. One day you will have accomplished all your dreams, even when things felt like they were falling apart at the seams.

So remember, everything they told you was a lie. Being a child of immigrants was never a curse, it never made things worse. To grow up watching your parents struggle, proved that there was nothing that we could not juggle. Their sacrifices to give you everything you could ever need, all so that you could succeed. So yes young brown girl, the world is all yours to twirl.

Sincerely,

Someone like you