I was fourteen years old when a new life started for me. My mother came to the US searching for a better future for my sister and I, she left us with my grandmother when I was only two years old. Sometimes, a new beginning sounds scary. I had lived my entire life in El Salvador, surrounded by my family and friends, and now the moment to leave my country had come, I was to leave my home to come to the US to reunite with my mother. It was not an event I had envisioned, it was rather something that I saw far from happening. Though reuniting with my mother was a very important moment for me, I was facing a tough time in my life because I was leaving most of my relatives, friends and everything I knew behind, to start a new life, to start from scratch. …show more content…
Coming to a new country where everything is different was a very difficult time for me, the fact that I knew little English and that I could not speak it, was going to make of high school, a difficult experience for me, and I felt overwhelmed.
But I always try to be optimistic and make the best of every situation, so I did not let that bring me down. Despite the barriers that were trying to hold me down, I gave my best effort to learn English so that I could excel at school without any difficulties, so that I could be successful and graduate from college one day. On my first day of school, I felt very nervous, since I did not know anyone and it would be hard for me to get to know people due to the language issue. [It made me feel as if I was alone in this new place]. In my very first class, an English grammar class for beginners, there were only two other people. We all had a similar background; we all came from different countries where English is not spoken. We looked at each other with faces that showed how confused we were, since none of us spoke English. It was very hard trying to understand, but I made the effort. Throughout the day, I encountered other people that were like me, foreigners that were in the same situation as I, and it made me feel more comfortable with myself. I felt that I was not alone in this new
experience. This experience has shaped me, and one of the lessons that I have learned from it, is that we should always look at the positive side of the story and take advantage of every opportunity that is given to us. A new beginning can give your life a positive outlook.
Since my father remained in Haiti while we made our home here in the states, by the time I was in my late teens I soon realized that I was the leader of my family. The apartment complex where we lived was increasingly becoming unsafe and it was very clear that I had to move us out of that environment into a safer one. I worked hard and saved up and when I was 23 years old I was fortunate enough to have my first major accomplishment by purchasing my own house where I moved in my mother, my 3 sisters, my younger brother, and occasionally my father. It made me feel good that I could provide a safer living environment for my entire family.
When I was twelve, my parents moved to the United States to work and make a better life for me while I stayed behind with my grandparents. When I graduated high school, my mom asked me if I wanted to come to live in the United States. I missed my parents and wanted a new and exciting experience to challenge me and help me grow. Thus, my journey began.
When I first came to this country, I wasn’t thinking about the language, how to learn it, use it, write, how I’m going to speak with people who are next to you and you want to talk to them. My first experience was in Veterans School, it was my first year in school here in United States, and I was in eight grades. The first day of school you were suppose to go with your parent, especially if you were new in the school, like me. What happened was that I didn’t bring my dad whit me, a woman was asking me a lot of questions and I was completely loss, I didn’t have any idea of what she was telling me and I was scare. One funny thing, I started cry because I fell like frustrate, I didn’t know no one from there. Someone seat next to me, and ask me in Spanish what was wrong and I just say in my mind thanks God for send me this person, then I answered her that I didn’t know Engl...
This was back in November 2007, in India. I was 12 years old. I was enjoying my normal life. But I didn’t know that my life will change surprisingly. One day I came home from the school and my parents made decision of moving to the United States. I was totally amazed at that moment. My parents wanted move so that me and my sister can have a better life, education, and opportunity.
the process of moving to a new country and starting over was not an easy one, but it was very much worth it. Being in America has given me so many new opportunities. Looking at my life now, the fact the I am able to go to college, drive a car, and be independent is a blessing. Many people that are my age don’t get those opportunities in Cameroon. The rights that I have here in America as a woman, are not the same rights that I would’ve had if I were still in Cameroon. Through the process, I learned not to be afraid of new beginnings. New beginnings bring with them new opportunities, friendships, experiences, and
I was born February twenty-first 2,000, in Gainesville, Florida. My father was the assistant baseball coach at the University of Florida at the time, and my parents had to race to the hospital after a game to have me. I have lived in Florida, Arizona, and now Georgia. All those moves were because one of my parents got a new job. Augusta is now the place where I have spent most of my life growing up.
I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my life after high school. I sat at home, on the computer, searching for careers and colleges majors online, night after night. I’d ask my parents, “What should I do with my life?” They would repeatedly give me the same answer, “Whatever your little heart desires.” That response just made me even more confused and frustrated because it reminded me of how many different options I had to choose from. I knew I wanted to continue my education by attending college, but there are so many aspects to think about when considering a college, such as, the type, cost, size, and distance of the college. I would stay awake in bed at night stressing about it. I knew I wanted to attend a college close
At a young age I have faced many strenuous challenges that molded me into the person I am today. When moving to America with my mother, she left her family behind her in order for me to gain a better life that I would not be able to have in Vietnam. Coming to America as immigrants, with no knowledge of the culture or language, was a complete culture shock for us. It was inevitable that my mother and I would run into problems as we try to assimilate.
It was a very cold morning on November 7th, 2000; my family and I walked into the big busy building not knowing what to expect, it was my first time ever being in an airport. It was also the first time for all of us to fly on an airplane. I was a curious six year old and the youngest of all my siblings. I would ask a lot of questions to my mom like “When will I go to school? What language do they speak in America? Will we have a big house in America?” We were all very nervous but, excited not knowing what to expect when we arrive in America. My parents took a big chance
When I made the decision to return to college to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) I looked at many universities. I needed a university that was going to work with me not against me with the challenges of my already crazy life. Three challenges that I know I will be presented with during my time in school will be time management, distractions and support.
Moving to another country and starting a new chapter of life are two of the most difficult things in life. Nobody wants to change, including me. In my country, Vietnam, people usually says that "if you have a chance to live in the United States, your future will be so bright because living in America is living on a field that is full of gold." When I was young and still as a child, my parent told me that we will be leaving Vietnam and moving to the United States in the future. When I heard that, I was so happy. Four years ago, my family and I moved to the United States with the hope of having a better future and the happiness of family reunion with my grandparent. On the way to United State, we always thought, expected, and hoped that everything will be okay and fine. After few months we have been living in the new country, problems started to happen. My parents could not communicate and understand people who spoken English because they had no chance to study English back in Vietnam. In Vietnam, they only used motorcycle. When they came here, they had to learn how to drive cars. It was really hard for my parents to find jobs since they could not speak and understand English, could not drive either. Everything was new and we had to learn and start everything from the beginning. It was really hard for my parent, including me.
GO WOLF PACK!! How I wish I could go back, to my carelessness and worry free days. Those were the days; the days my parents always told me I would eventually miss but yet took for granted. If I could go back, I would most definitely do things differently. High-school without a doubt is such a different experience compared to college in many aspects. There is far more freedom, it was not as difficult and it doesn’t require funds, but it certainly was not “High School Musical.”
When I first started school, I really didn’t know any English. It was hard because none of the kids knew what I was saying, and sometimes the teachers didn’t understand what I was saying. I was put in those ELL classes where they teach you English. The room they would take us to was full of pictures to teach us English, and they would make us sit on a red carpet and teach us how to read and write. When I would go back to regular class, I would have to try harder than the other students. I would have to study a little more and work a little harder with reading and writing if I wanted to be in the same level as the other kids in my class. when I got to third grade I took a test for my English and past it I didn’t have to go to does ELL classes anymore because I passed the test, and it felt great knowing that I wouldn’t have to take those classes no more.
I was 16 years old when I faced my biggest crisis. I did not know what to do; I even refused to think about it. I thought everything was going to resolve itself but that was impossible. My mother had received an opportunity to come legally to the United States as permanent residents and she was also allowed to take her family with her – my father, my brother and me. They seemed to be happy about it. That was their dream, but I didn’t know what to think and whether to be happy or sad about this. The thought that I had to leave everything I owned and everything I loved and then go somewhere else to start a whole new life scared me. What about all the friends I had? What about the relatives… my dog? What about the beautiful Bulgarian mountains and lakes and the Black Sea, and my little garden in the back yard. What about my whole life up to that point. Would I still be able to come back to it? Would it be the same? Would my friends still be my friends and remember me? I was confused and scared. There were so many questions in my head. I was afraid to imagine leaving even for a part of the second.
My parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1999. My mother came to this country first in January of that year, along with her parents and her siblings. She left behind her husband and her two daughters in search of a better life for all of us. Being away from your child even for a minute is the hardest thing to do as a mother. Not a day went by during our separation that she didn't think of us, did not long to hold us in her arms and to sing us to sleep with sweet lullabies. She fought back tears and endured heartache every day, but she knew that in the long run, this would all be worth it.