Welcome to episode 99 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!
Dr. Lissette Sanchez, a licensed psychologist, speaker, and writer, shares her story of growing up in Los Angeles as the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador. She reflects on her multicultural upbringing, how her family’s values shaped her, and the cultural blend that defined her identity.
Dr. Sanchez opens up about the emotional and cultural challenges she faced as a first-generation college student, including the feeling of being “othered” while attending college in San Diego. Dr. Sanchez highlights how academic pressures, class differences, and microaggressions affected her mental health—and how she found strength through community and representation.
Dr. Sanchez also talks about the profound impact of visiting Mexico and El Salvador, reconnecting with her roots, and how those experiences deepened her understanding of heritage and belonging. Today, she works to support first-generation professionals and college students, helping them navigate intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and the impostor phenomenon.
With Love, Heidy
Connect with Dr. Lisette Sanchez:
Website: https://www.calatheawellness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefirstgenpsychologist/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefirstgenpsychologist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstgenpsychologist
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