5 Things First-Generation Americans Should Know
Anyone who is a first-generation American understands that there are unique experiences and challenges only first-generation Americans will undergo. Some examples include being the to graduate from high school, the first to go to college, the first to open a bank account, the first to take out loans, the list goes on.
I’ve been fortunate in the path that I’ve taken. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I was the first to go to college and graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Even though I encountered many road bumps along the way, I’ve had a successful career as a women in Tech and worked at notable companies like Poly, Uber, and Bird. Throughout my journey I’ve learned and noted valuable things I wish I had prioritized earlier to set myself up for success.
That said, I can’t turn back time, it’s only onward from here. So I’ve compiled a list — no particular order — of things every first-generation American should know. I understand not all of us will have the same experience, but I hope anyone reading this finds something of value here. Representation matters so this is my take on what every first-gen should know.
- Financial Responsibility
Everyone's family and financial situation is different. Some of us will experience pressure to contribute financially early in our teens while others won’t. I began to slowly provide for my family in my early 20s. Since then, this journey has been a roller coaster, but what’s helped me the most has been having a good grasp on money management even when I didn’t have much money to manage in the first place. I highly recommend learning to budget and practice self-control to get through the tough years. Something I wish I had done earlier was pursue different forms of income, which I will get into in a later section.
One other thing I found to be extremely helpful has been having an emotional support system. I’m lucky to have a few friends who I can talk to about this experience and responsibility. Not everyone will understand, which is okay because sometimes you just need someone to talk to. So while you’re out there being superman or superwoman, don’t forget to look out for your mental well-being.
2. Different Streams of Income
There are a variety of income types and depending on your upbringing and environment you may or may not learn about the importance of having different streams of income. For a long time I was primarily focused on saving my earnings and budgeting. I did not know the differences between active, passive, or portfolio income.
With time I learned that just because your environment does not set you up for success, doesn’t mean you can’t. To educate myself I bought Stock Investing for Dummies (4th edition) by Paul Mladjenovic and that is how I started building my investment portfolio. Apart from that, I recently started selling digital goods on Etsy as a side hustle. So regardless of your current job, skills, and interests, there are multiple ways to earn income. I definitely recommend getting started early on these endeavors, especially if you are expected to or already provide for your family.
Side note: If you’re looking to pick up one of Paul Mladjenovic’s books, be sure to get the most recent publications.
3. Develop Strong Excel Skills
If you want to be a valuable asset to any team you join, don’t ignore this tip. I first started learning how to use excel in high school. I picked up the basics pretty quickly, but I had no knowledge of its full capacity. I then went on to major in Film/Digital Media in college so it wasn’t until I landed a job at Uber that I saw first hand how valuable this skill is. I met folks who started off very green and strengthened their excel skills on the job and went on to work on many great projects.
In case you haven’t noticed yet, just about every job has Excel listed as either a requirement or a bonus. If you are a beginner and are looking to grow your knowledge of excel, I recommend Microsoft Excel — Excel From Beginner to Advanced course on Udemy, but of course, there are plenty of other advanced lessons available on Udemy.
Quick tip: Don’t ever pay the full price for a course on Udemy. Courses are always on sale. Simply open the link in an incognito window.
4. Reading To Improve Verbal Communication Skills
Reading has many benefits. If you want to improve your vocabulary or verbal communication skills, then you should prioritize reading. When I was in high school I felt out of place because I could never finish a book assignment. I wasn’t someone who enjoyed reading. I wish I did and I tried, but the assigned books like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Catcher in the Rye were dull for me. On top of that, I wasn’t a strong reader. I had a difficult time controlling my thoughts while attempting to read silently.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy bio and autobiographies as well as books on product management. For anyone who struggles with reading and/or is looking to improve their verbal communication skills, I highly recommend you explore different genres until you find what interests you. There’s something out there for everyone and it doesn’t matter what you read as long as you are reading something everyday.
5. Take Advantage of Online Resources
In my experience, being a first-generation American means you likely won’t have access to the best education and resources. When I was growing up, I was very insecure about my math and English skills. These insecurities really hurt me for a long time because I held myself back in many ways. I didn’t believe in myself. Something I wish I had done differently was take advantage of online resources to improve these skills on my own. Khan Academy is a great resource education resource and one that I highly recommend.
Fortunately, the person I am today is very different from my younger self. If I want to learn about a topic or develop a new skill, I know it’s just one Google search away. People often say the world is your oyster, but I like to say the internet is your oyster.
