Deciding to immigrate to another country is life-changing. It will affect virtually every aspect of your life. I immigrated to the UK from Iran when I was only 17 years old, all alone. Today, over a decade later, I want to share 5 lessons that immigration taught me. 

If you are considering immigrating to another country, chances are that you want to make a change in your life. That’s awesome; I have so much respect for anybody who takes active steps to improve their lives. 

However, if this is your first time immigrating, which is the case with most people, you are probably unaware of the implications that this may have for your life. 

As such, I wish to share 5 key lessons that I learned after I immigrated to the UK during my formative years.  

1. Most people don’t care about you 

This begins to hit you as you find yourself alone in your new “home”. I don’t mean that you will necessarily be lonely, I certainly wasn’t. For the most part, my years as an immigrant were the most social years of my life. I made so many friends and I actually cannot count the number of people that I met. 

However, this does not mean that you can rely on others. You really are on your own, and your problems are unique to you. 

Let me give you an example: many of my friends, and my close circle of friends in university were British. Despite our close friendship, they simply could not resonate with me or my “immigrant” problems such as worrying about staying in the UK after graduation. 

This is a tough lesson, initially. Nevertheless, it is also a chance to build that “immigrant resilience” and self-sufficiency that helps you achieve greater things later in life. 

2. And the above includes family members 

Now, I do not wish to generalize here, as everyone’s family members are different. And by this, I am not necessarily referring to immediate family members such as parents. 

However, when you do immigrate, you will face barriers and problems in your life. And guess what? Tough times show you who really cares, and who does not. 

Do not be surprised if you notice that you have lost contact with family members whom you regarded as life companions. 

It is a sad reality in the world that failure and hard times are also very lonely. 

3. You may lose your identity after you immigrate 

Once you settle in after you immigrate, and integrate, you may lose touch with who you really are. 

You may begin to question your identity, your core values, your culture and so on. 

This is not necessarily a bad thing. Having this “comparative” outlook broadens your mental horizon. 

However, it can be a difficult issue to face. Moreover, I firmly believe that our “values” strongly affect how far we get in life. Questioning your values will help you understand what your life purpose really is, and isn’t. 

4. Do not expect a red carpet to be laid down for you

Let me be absolutely clear here, and I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news: immigrating, in many scenarios, means that you are socially subordinate.

The logic is essentially that “you have immigrated to this country because it is somehow better than yours”. Thus, be ready for many people to misunderstand your culture and where you come from.

5. The only way to survive is becoming stronger and wiser 

As I said, you are on your own. This is a fact of life, and it is reinstated even more once you become an “immigrant”. 

You will face injustice, discrimination, and unfairness. Yes, it sucks. But that’s a reality. 

My advice to you: do not fall into the victimhood mentality. Improve your physical and intellectual capabilities every single day. 

When I came to the UK as a college student, I was a skinny teenager who could barely write a formal email. Today, I’m an athlete, and a leading business consultant and hold a master’s degree in law. 

These are the lessons that I learnt after I immigrated to the UK. I hope these help you prepare for your journey and give you a realistic outlook of what to expect. 

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About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats. I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (replaced by the Innovator Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.