First and foremost, I'd like to thank my parents.
Every day, I think about how much my parents have done for me and I immediately feel this rush of gratitude. My parents came to the United States 20 years ago with very little. They had just gotten married and they were educated but they didn't have any family in the States and knew very few people that were coming to this country. Yet they managed to build a life for themselves and their kids in which they would be financially stable and happy for a long time.
It absolutely boggles my mind that with very few connections and no technology, they were able to raise a kid right after coming into a country that they weren't familiar with. They didn't even know much English! Yet here they are 20 years later with very successful jobs, a nice house, a large family, lots of friends, and a lot of experience and knowledge.
They never tell me much about how their lives were like right when they moved to this country, but I can imagine it was hard at first and that they had to struggle. And the most amazing part is that they did all this and went through all this for their kids. They went through struggle after uprooting their whole lives in India to make sure their kids get the right education and grow up to be successful and happy. It really puts things in perspective any time I feel like my life is hard or that I can't manage it. Just knowing that my parents went through the hardest of hardships and still ended up successful makes me believe that I can also do the same.
I know for sure that no matter what I do I will never be able to live up to everything my parents have done. And I owe them my entire life and more for what they have sacrificed and done for me. The least I can do is be appreciative and grateful for everything they have given me, and be hardworking and successful to make them proud.
And to think that thousands and thousands of other parents have done the same for their kids, just wow. They absolutely deserve endless love and appreciation.
For all you first-generation children — or anyone for that matter — your greatest gift to your parents is love and gratitude. They sacrificed so much for your happiness and future so it's your responsibility to be kind and giving to them, always. To ALL the parents that immigrated here for the wellbeing of their children, thank you.
