From Haiti to UF: My experience as a first generation immigrant

In a world of Generation X/Y/Z etc, sometimes first generation children don’t know where they belong. I propose that they are a different generation: Generation Blend.

I am an immigrant.

Legally, of course. Hold off on calling Immigration Services or even Trump after me. *Pulls out certified U.S. Citizenship form as proof*

My family is from a spot in the Caribbean. Haiti, if we’re being specific.  When I was at the ripe young age of six months, my mother and father packed up me and my three year old sister to head to America.

The self-proclaimed land of the free and home of the brave. Too bad we didn’t read the fine print that warned us of how difficult it would be for us once we got into America.

Family comes first. This is me with my family on my college graduation day. Along with my parents and my older sister, my family grew to include two younger brothers, a younger sister and a nephew after years here in America.

From then, my experiences of growing up can be illustrated in one image: a puzzle. Not in the sense that I was puzzled about things my entire life (although that is not far from the truth; I have been deemed as clueless). But because I had a hard time learning how to fit in.

I love my culture, don’t get me wrong. I take pride in being able to say I am bilingual, and I can go on and on about my country’s culture, food, music and the like. But I won’t deny that it was hard for me growing up.

Despite our cultural gap and our different upbringings, my parents always support me. As usual, my mom isn’t in on the joke

I was a random puzzle piece in this beautiful portrait of identity, but I didn’t know where I belonged.

I lived in two worlds. In my home, I was immersed in Haitian culture. Our language, our food, our customs and traditions, even the church we went to. It was all Haitian, all the time.

Soon as I stepped out the door, however, it was a different story. American culture surrounded me at every angle, and the language, customs and traditions varied from that of my parents. I felt like I was living a double life: I was the Clark Kent of culture (or Bruce Banner, if you prefer).

It wasn’t until I attended college I found that there are so many like me: first generation students who also have a cultural difference than those of their counterparts. Granted, it made college a little difficult as well. Not being able to depend on parents for help or assistance on how to navigate college life, and not knowing of the resources college offered, or even how to obtain them are common challenges we face. This could perhaps lead to why it takes many of us longer to graduate college, if we even get to that point at all.

CaribSA (Caribbean Student Association) was one of the organizations I found full of other students like me. I was honored to be selected as Ms CaribSA 2015, and to inspire others

Because I was able to find a network of students like me, we were able to support and assist each other into success in college. Our shared experiences brought us together, and our culture made us a family. Thanks to them, I was able to graduate and even take pride in my differences.

Today I can say that I’m no longer obsessed with being a random puzzle piece, looking to where I can squeeze in. I am a masterpiece already, a beautiful blend of cultures, with rich hues of history.

I am generation blend.