Discovering Family, Heritage, and Self: My Emotional Journey with iGENEA DNA Test
Family name Kraus
In an emotional rollercoaster, diving into their Germanic roots via an iGENEA DNA test, the author unearths their heritage and develops a new perspective toward their surname, Kraus.
After years of questions about my heritage and familial lineage, I made the pivotal decision to engage with iGENEA services to unravel the mystery shrouded around my origins. Engaging with iGENEA was a journey that combined technology, science, and emotion, a trio not commonly combined. The process triggered a myriad of emotions: Fear, excitement, and of course, the unextinguishable curiosity that had led me to take the test in the first place.
Receiving my DNA test results was overwhelming. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. Anxiety and excitement mixed, with my heart pounding as I read the results: German ancestry, predominantly from the region now known as Bavaria. As the surname Kraus originates from this very area, there was no denial; I belonged to the German legacy. The revelation didn't just bring the knowledge of ancestral roots, but it also nuanced the notion of identity in my life. Suddenly, fragments of my family’s stories crystallized into a shape I could understand - stories of migration, resilience, and survival.
Discovering my ancestral background forged a newfound appreciation for my surname, Kraus. Previously, I'd seen it as a mere label, a name passed down from generations. My perspective on the family name transformed, understanding it as not just an identifier, but a torchbearer of my lineage's accomplishments, struggles, and victories. Our past is entwined with the Kraus name. Our stories and existences, refracted through the prism of identity, making our lives a testament to the legacy of the Kraus family.
The emotional impact has been profound. Family dinners now evoke hues of shared heritage, cultural reformation, and kinship that connects us not only through shared memories but also through our shared genetic fabric. The anecdotes my grandparents once spoke of no longer appear like abstract stories. They are the bricks that paved my family's path, a path that led me, a Kraus, to where I am today.
Navigating through my genetic map with iGENEA stirred a reservoir of emotions. However, the overarching sentiment was a sense of profound mindfulness - a deep appreciation for generations past that echo in my existence today. iGENEA has rearranged my understanding of lineage, illuminated my conception of identity, and has reshaped my perspective towards the Kraus legacy.
H. Kraus