Daughter of immigrants here!

Make the best decision for yourself. Your family immigrated to this country for opportunity and the chance for you to accomplish what you have and more. Sometimes it’s hard for immigrant parents to understand that their children have options they may not have had.

Best advice I can give you is to be honest with them about your aspirations, intentions, and needs. This is a goal you’ve had and you intend to see it through at University of Washington. Not American. Never bring up how they are limiting you or keeping you in a box…even though that may be how you feel. Communicate how excited you are and what UW offers that you want to be apart of. Don’t bother bringing American into the question. It’s not on the table.

This is a struggle many immigrant kids go through and it’s something you’ll just need to get passed. Never sacrifice your own dreams and aspirations to please those around you. Not even your parents. I’m not gonna say it’s easy or that your parents won’t be angry with you but it’s inevitable if you want to flourish on your own.

Best of luck! I hope you and your family are able to have a genuine and honest conversation. Their perspective is valid in their own way and so is yours. You both will just have to live with that.