Learned Helplessness
I have been financially independent since I graduated high school at 16. I have not asked my parents for money since then and even though I’m broke, the little I have is what I have created. Being the daughter of immigrants has been tough. As a first-generation American if I wanted an education I had to figure out how to pay for it on my own. None of that, “My grandparents have money saved for my schooling.” Or, “I’m on my parent’s insurance.” Nah, my siblings and I don’t get that luxury. We get to figure things out on our own. The eight of us siblings take each other to doctor appointments, learn about mortgages, and deal with our crap together. I’m grateful for my immigrant parents and the things that I have learned from my upbringing. The lack of groundwork and stability provided means I have become strong building my own foundation (yes, I can use power tools as well as the next Latino). However, I am also acutely aware of the fact that my muscles seem to so