Auburn University is filled with students from many different backgrounds, each with their own story to tell.
Some attend because their parents went here, while others may be the first in their families to be born in the United States.
For Nwando Anwah, junior in journalism, going to school in America meant she was given three choices by her Nigerian parents as to what she could do with her career: lawyer, doctor or engineer.
Anwah said her father told her he would not pay for her to study for any other career.
After two years of intense science curriculums, Anwah said she couldn't take it any longer and decided to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist.
"At first, I tried to water down biomedical sciences by majoring in nursing, but it was still affecting my grades, so I switched to journalism," Anwah said.
According to Anwah, her father is learning to accept her new career and is still paying for her to attend Auburn University.
Jade Ologunja, sophomore in nursing, said for her parents, school was a priority.
"There was no choice," Ologunja said. "Education is a huge thing for them."
Although her parents would have "been really happy" had she gone to medical school, Ologunja said they told her as long as she became successful, she could follow her dreams.
Ologunja said her parents moved from Nigeria to America before she was born.
"Their main goal for my sister and me is to do better than they did when they were growing up," Ologunja said. "They are so glad we have all of these opportunities, and they just want us to take advantage of (them)."
Although both Ologunja and Anwah were born in the United States, they said they are still subjected to the stereotypical questions people with immigrant parents are asked.
Associate professor of sociology John Cottier said Americans have come a long way, but stereotyping other cultures still exists.
"We create stereotypes in a lot of situations, something we have a difficult time getting away from," Cottier said.
Ologunja said besides the occasional ignorant question, people everywhere she has lived in the South, including Auburn, have been accepting of her family's culture.
Ologunja said the most common questions are about her parents' language skills.
"A lot of times people ask me if my parents speak English and if both my parents live here," Ologunja said.
Anwah was raised bilingual, speaking both English and Igbo, a Nigerian language, with her parents.
"I've grown up speaking Igbo with my dad, and English was my second language," Anwah said.
Both Ologunja and Anwah said the stereotype that Nigerian parents are strict is completely true.
"They question everything," Ologunja said. "Even little things, like curfew is a really huge deal for them, and I always used to have to tell them who I was hanging out with and where."
Although this level of strictness could dampen any teenager's attitude, Ologunja said she is happy her parents are the way they are and has come to have a newfound appreciation for them.
"I love being immersed in two different cultures," Ologunja said. "Plus Nigerian food is so good."
Anwah said her father came to America hoping to make a better life for himself and his future family, and the advantages he was able to provide his daughter with help motivate her every day.
"My dad came here knowing no one, and in order to put himself through college, he had to work two jobs, a morning job, class and then a janitor at night," Anwah said. "I know where I came from, and a lot of people can't really say that."
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