10/08/2025
6 weeks ago, my dad passed away and it got me thinking about his life journey and what difficult challenges he and our family faced as immigrants. He didn’t just immigrate once, he did it multiple times to different countries, learning new languages, cultures, and figuring out ways to financially support a family while going to school at night.
I’m a first-generation immigrant, born in Germany, raised in Korea — and I’m proud of it. My family came to this country with nothing but courage, sacrifice, and dreams. We built a life from the ground up, even when we were told and felt like we didn’t belong.
Immigrants are the backbone of this country. They work tirelessly, create, love, and give — often twice as hard for half the recognition.
To every immigrant out there: your story matters. Your strength runs deep. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong — YOU are AMERICA, YOU are what makes this country great, and without YOU, this country wouldn’t exist!
