October 2, 2022
While participating in a story circle with my peers, I realized that socio-economic identity is an overlooked lens through which I can understand my behavior. In my self portrait, I didn’t write much about my economic background because I didn’t yet acknowledge its significance in my story. Our discussion revealed how much it class influences the way we navigate our lives, even if it’s an invisible trait. Therefore, my peers enlightened my own perspective of my identity, and how it shape many, if not all, of my opportunities and experiences with the institutional and bureaucratic world.
Coming to Wesleyan has been a humbling experience. People often mention things casually in conversation that I never would’ve imagined being possible for my family and me. Still, I don’t think I would wish for anything in my life to be different, after all my background, including my socio-economic standing, has guided me into who I am today. My parents work incredibly hard, and I’ve inherited their drive and ambition. In sum, I am deeply grateful for all their sacrifices because it has taught me about the real world, and not a cushioned reality.
April 10, 2025
Two years later, I still struggle when asked to talk about myself. What has my life journey really been, and what core values have shaped the way I move through the world? I often reach for the immigration story, but I wonder, is that truly is a part of my story, or it’s just the foundation provided by my parents’? The same idea is mirrored when I think about growing up in a low-income household. I had everything I needed as a child, but the realities of our financial situation were always present but didn’t influence my happiness. Although, it is woven subconsciously throughout every chapter of my life.
My socio-economic identity is inseparable from my family’s decision to come to America with nothing to their name. And because of this, I’ve always felt it’s my responsibility to build social status for us. We started fresh in a new country, but it’s too late for my parents to reinvent their lives in an American system that values wealth above all else. In this country that runs on individualism, the climb toward financial security often leaves families like mine behind. Meanwhile, I’m a student and in my prime so I feel these expectations hanging over me, but I am finishing university with no future secured.
Despite my financial situation, my family is ready to welcome me home, without hesitation and, in fact, with joy. So, that may be the biggest difference. The deep-rooted collectivism that I trace back to Poland allows me to take my next steps without guilt, because the pressure to succeed is mine alone, and not something imposed by my parents. They’ve never demanded anything from me except that I try. They want me to be together with them, as long as I can be, because the sacrifice, the uncertainty, and the hope that came with starting over again has already been paid back through my life as their daughter. It is still true that I want to build the generational wealth we’ve never had, and I do feel like it’s my responsibility, but I know I’m not ready yet. Nevertheless, I feel it looming, waiting to belong to me and my family.
