The highlight of the summit was a panel of Marshallese students and young professionals—a parent educator, climate and education activists, mental health counselor, UAMS medical student, and a barber-shop entrepreneur—who all shared their own patterns of movement and exploration that offer trailways ☊ to undiscovered futures for a younger generation of Marshallese youth.

 

Whether the first Marshallese NBA player ☊ or the first Marshallese therapist ☊ in the community, the options ☊ today for Marshallese youth are more varied than the career pressures they might feel from their parents to help better their country ☊ in vocations such as law and medicine. The truth is that Marshallese need a seat at every table ☊, persistently sharing stories and not allowing the nuclear legacy ☊ to be forgotten or erased.

Exploring new futures for Marshallese youth is not without obstacles; it’s hard ☊. Panelists shared their experiences of first-generation students ☊, young parents ☊ and professionals who were often underestimated ☊ and struggled to find the support ☊ they needed to pursue their aspirations. Yet, they persisted, encouraged by examples of those who “did it” ☊ before them. Shedding certain expectations ☊, these panelists found freedom in trusted messengers ☊, self-care ☊ and therapy ☊, even when their own families didn’t quite understand or support it.

Despite the varied paths of panelists, a collective legacy emerged from their sharings that offer a wayfaring signal to young people everywhere right now. From the modest aspiration of making another person smile ☊ to the passionate plea to “break generational curses” ☊ and pass on something that’s worth building, the future for this community is one we all should be fighting for.