Re: Careers & immigrants
I have seen my mother struggle through all of this. But it was my father and nana who encouraged her and didn't let her lose focus off what she wanted. Everyone she knew or met would tsk tsk about how hard it is to live here and how there's no future for professionals and blah blah. Of course she got very worried, even sick, because she's always been very successful and for her to get these kind of views from others left her very depressed. But she went back to Pakistan and while she was telling my grandfather how difficult it is and that she cannot do it, he got so upset. He was like, is this why I sent you to medical school? To work for a few years and then throw your career away? She came back, did what she needed to and mashallah now is successful.
I think that extra push is always needed when you see someone straying away. It's a given that you will meet those few with negative views throughout your life.. but it's your own ambition and goals in life that will guide you. And ofcourse, family members should be very supportive and even forceful if they need to.