Angelina Huynh is a first-year student planning on majoring in sociology. She is a second-generation immigrant whose parents came to the United States from Vietnam.
Byline: By Emma Ritter
“My grandpa got really lucky and was able to afford to bring him and his children here. The political climate in Vietnam at the time was unstable, and there was opportunity here. My mom eventually came here in her 20s and married my dad.
My parents did the stereotypical, ‘work your way up’ and tried their best to pursue the American Dream. Growing up with that being my perspective, it has shaped the way I see every opportunity. When I was younger, I would work really hard on my schoolwork, and I saw every opportunity as a privilege.
As I got older, I developed my own perspective on things. I understand that not everyone can pursue the American Dream, but my exposure to the world and how I saw things when I was younger was, ‘work hard for everything’.
I really appreciate the perspective I have. I see both world views between Western and Eastern cultures. I am very involved with American culture, individuality and my ability to pursue my own happiness. I also understand the family values of Eastern culture, our collectiveness and how we value being a whole unit rather than an individual. There are good and bad things on both sides, but I am glad I have both of those perspectives.
I feel like a lot of us second-gens share this sense of responsibility. It’s kind of stressful sometimes because I feel like I carry this heavy burden and responsibility of being a second-gen, and I feel like I’ve experienced a lot of things that others haven’t. I do have to help my parents with a lot of documents and help with their jobs. I just don’t have that feeling of being a carefree college student. There are other things I have to worry about than just myself.
I signed myself up for college without their help because they’re not familiar with that stuff, and I didn’t want to make them figure it out for me. I did all that myself, and I helped my brother with his school stuff, too. It’s just a lot of extra responsibility, and I feel like most children of immigrants could relate to that.
It’s funny talking to other students as they’re slowly trying to figure out their adult lives. I experienced so much of that earlier in my life. It’s validating to hear other people’s stories because it does feel isolating sometimes when I know so many people who don’t have to worry about these things”.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview by Emma Ritter