As the eldest daughter of immigrant parents in the early 1990s and the first English speaker in the family, I was thrust into the role of a helper, supporting my parents, siblings, extended family and community. Whether I chose this role or was shaped into it remains uncertain. Existing literature suggests that lived experiences often predispose individuals to helping professions like counselling. This chapter presents an autoethnographic account of my journey to becoming a counsellor. Using the ‘what, so what, now what’ framework, I reflect on early life experiences, family storytelling and personal journals to explore the impact of culture, migration and parentification on my decision to pursue a helping profession. It delves into how being a first-born, Arabic-speaking, Muslim daughter of migrant parents influenced my career path and examines the interplay of nature and nurture in this choice. Additionally, the chapter highlights how early challenges evolved into professional strengths in the mental health field and offers insights into the self-care practices of counselling professionals, suggesting ways to improve their efficacy.