Although I initially believed that I had a diverse cultural heritage, the truth is that it was not the case. However, as I grew older, I had the chance to explore various cultures through travel and life experiences. Developing my individual and cultural identity was challenging for me, particularly because of my vision loss. Fortunately, with my family’s support, I had the opportunity to go abroad and fully immerse myself in other cultures.
When I was 16 years old, we hosted a foreign exchange student at our home, which allowed me to visit Europe for the first time ever. This experience marked a new chapter in my life as it helped me become more open-minded towards individuals who are different from me. Traveling to unfamiliar destinations made me realize how truly unique and diverse our world is.
Both of my parents were influenced by their family values regarding education and skilled labor. While my father considered manual work as a hobby rather than a profession, thus expressing his appreciation for skilled labor, my mother’s grandparents held opposition to higher education for women in the 1950s and 60s.
Despite the emphasis placed on education during that time period, my mother stressed its importance for her children. Taking inspiration from her sewing and business skills, which she learned at our family’s hardware store, she chose to enter the wedding apparel industry as a career. With a blend of Irish heritage from my father’s side and a mix of English and Native American ancestry from my mother’s side, our family is usually small. On my father’s side, the largest family has three kids, while my immediate family consists solely of me and my sister.
Traditionally, the male would work outside of the home and the female would be a stay-at-home mother. However, my sister’s situation has changed over the past 7 years. Initially, she was a working wife with no children, but now she is a nurse manager who is taking time off until her kids start school. In contrast to our cultural background, her husband and his family have a different heritage. They come from a large Irish family where both parents worked long hours and had a nanny for their 6 children while attending social elite events. Despite this difference, my sister has adapted to her new role.
