Ep. 73: The Struggles Of Breaking Cultural Traditions

Stories of trailblazers breaking cultural traditions and norms are always feel-good and inspiring, but that's because you don't see what the road looked like before they paved the way. First-gen students, Americans, and those who immigrate to this country for a better future are the trailblazers that take the beating building paths so those after them can enjoy the stroll. I'm very lucky to have someone I deeply admire and am fortunate to call my best friend on today's episode, Dr. Jiyan Mohammad. Jiyan came to the US from Kurdistan, a territory in northern Iraq, and is the oldest of 10. Part of Kurdish culture is that women are only really supported to aspire to become wives and mothers. At around the age of 8, Jiyan said fuck that (my words not hers!) and knew she wanted a different life than the women before her. Breaking cultural and family traditions can be filled with heartbreak, work you down to the bone, and be a challenging task with no one to help guide you. But like Jiyan, people break them so they can build a better life for themselves, their families, and their future. This episode is for the unrecognized heroes breaking traditions is worth listening to every minute!