Enia quoted A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung
"Although many people identify as middle-of-the-road, middle-class, average Americans, there are differences between a working-class and a middle-class existence, and these differences can be far from subtle. If you grow up as I did and happen to be very fortunate, as I was, your family might sacrifice much so that you can go to college. You'll feel grateful for every subsequent opportunity you get, for the degrees and open doors and better-paying jobs (if you can find them), even as an unexpected, sometimes painful distance yawns between you and the place you came from —and many will expect you to express that gratitude, using your story or your accomplishments to attack those who weren't so lucky. But in this country, unless you attain extraordinary wealth, you will likely be unable to help your loved ones in all the ways you'd hoped. You will learn to live with the specific, hollow guilt of those who leave hardship behind, yet are unable to bring anyone else with them."
— A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung (Page 21)
This rang so true and broke my heart. Any immigrant kid who tries to help their parents also knows that there's nothing worse than offering help to your family, only to have them decline it. even though they were integral to your academic success, even though they continue to support you and your help is offered with no strings attached. its heartbreaking when they feel uncomfortable sharing in the wealth they helped create, because our society makes them feel that the only success that matters is individual.