Balancing Heritage and Success: Amina's Journey in Tech
School
University of California, Davis**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PSC 261
Subject
Sociology
Date
Dec 10, 2024
Pages
1
Uploaded by MagistrateJackal3738
BackgroundAmina Rahim, a 28-year-old second-generation Bangladeshi-American, grew up in a tightly-knitimmigrant community in Queens, New York. Her parents emigrated from Dhaka in the early1990s, bringing with them their traditions, culture, and aspirations for a better future. Aminagrew up bilingual, speaking Bengali at home and English at school. She is the eldest of threesiblings and has always felt the weight of balancing familial expectations with her own dreams.Current LifeAmina works as a software engineer for a major tech company in Manhattan. She is highlyrespected in her field but often struggles with imposter syndrome, fearing she may not trulybelong in the male-dominated world of tech. Outside of work, she volunteers at a localcommunity center, teaching coding to underprivileged youth, many of whom are from immigrantfamilies like hers.ChallengesAmina has struggled with her mental health for years, particularly anxiety and mild depression.These feelings are compounded by the pressure to succeed and the fear of disappointing herfamily. While her parents support her career, they often remind her of the importance of settlingdown and starting a family, which she finds suffocating. Amina is also grappling with questionsof identity—how much of her cultural heritage to hold on to and how much to let go to fullyintegrate into American society.Growth and OutlookOver the past year, Amina has been working with a therapist who specializes in multiculturalcounseling. She’s learned strategies to manage her anxiety and is starting to set boundarieswith her family. She’s also exploring ways to celebrate her heritage more authentically, such aslearning traditional Bangladeshi recipes and organizing cultural events at her workplace.Amina’s journey is ongoing, but she’s beginning to feel more comfortable in her dual identity andoptimistic about her future.
