Nowadays, a lot of people have become very interested in finding their family tree. And have turned to DNA tests and genetic genealogy services to learn more about where and who they come from.
And researching family history is not just a side hobby; it’s an entire world of possibilities and quite a few surprises.
Here’s what you can expect:
Expect to Be Intrigued
Researching family history can be fascinating from the get-go. Not only are the results exciting, but even the process is very enjoyable. Going through records can start to feel a lot like solving a mystery, and the discoveries can often keep things interesting for a very long time.
Expect to Be Thoroughly Surprised or Disappointed
When you dive into old records, you’re bound to come across pieces of information that may surprise you. Things like finding out you’re part East Asian or partly Jewish are surprises, albeit minor ones.
However, sometimes people can be disappointed with the information they come across. For instance, this could be a horrific way to find out you’re adopted.
Or, in the case of Irish Alice, who found out through DNA testing done just for fun, she was not 100 percent Irish as she believed but was actually also significantly Jewish. It turned out that her father had been switched at the hospital way back when he was a baby.
Expect to Find A New You
Diving deeper into your family history can instill a new sense of personal identity, and it can make you feel closer to your roots. It can make one feel like they belong, to a specific community, their trials and achievements.
But at the same time, discovering a new identity can be unnerving for some. It can make one feel like they don’t belong anywhere in the present. In such circumstances, it’s important to keep in mind that our DNA does not represent our culture and value—the ones we grew up with still belong to us as well.
Expect Lots of Challenges
Whether you start researching your family history with a specific goal like to find lost family members or just as a hobby, it’s important to keep in mind that it requires effort, time, and sometimes, even money. But most importantly, it requires an incredible amount of patience and determination.
This is because when conducting genealogical research, there will be a lot of guesswork that may lead to complete dead ends and brick walls. Moreover, you may be looking into the wrong places with the wrong information, only to realize that you’ve been wasting your time and efforts with the wrong clue.
These challenges are only natural if you’re somebody new to genealogy. But if you ever feel like you’ve reached a brick wall you just can’t pass, get in touch with us.
We are an online DNA analysis service provider, and we can help you find family history with our genetic genealogy services.
Get in touch with us right away for expert DNA research assistance.