Coming To America Essay

Juneof2005,IcametoAmerica.MyfamilyandIendedupinPalmSprings,California,broke, withoutahome,andabsolutelycluelessonwhattoexpect.Yearslatermymotherwouldtellstories ofmyrebelliousbehaviorasIhadatoughtimefittinginwiththerestofthechildren;Iwould alwayslockmyselfinthecartoavoidschoolandcausemassivetantrumsinclassroomswhenmy motherwantedtoleavemeinaroomwithpeoplewhomIcouldnotevencommunicatewith.Iam gratefulformyparentsbringingmeherebecauseiftheyhadnot,IwouldnotbewhoIamtoday:a youngadultwithaverydistinctknowledgeofthesideoftheworldthatnoonetellsyouabout. ThroughtheyearssinceIhavegrownapassionforlearningasaresult

...Getmorecontent...

TheHopefulplaceforImmigrants

TheUnitedStatesofAmericahasmillionsofillegalandlegalimmigrantsmorethanpeoplethat borninthecountry.Ourcountryhasreceivedmanyimmigrantssince1600swiththepilgrimsand continuedinthetimeofindustrialization.Manyofthoseimmigrantsweresearchingreligious freedomandbetteropportunitiesButtheyfacedracialdiscrimination,lowpayrate,anddidn'thave opportunitiestofindbetterjobs.Nowinourtimes,peoplestillimmigrateillegalandlegalinour country.Theyarepeoplejustlikeusandtheyneedtobetreatedrightandfair.TheUnitedStates shouldhelpillegalimmigrantstohavethesameandequalrightsthatcitizensandshouldn'tbe punishedforwherecountrytheycomefrom.

PeoplefromallovertheworldcometoAmericaformanyreasons;forinstance,mostofillegaland legalimmigrantcometothiscountryforabetterlifeandtoreunitewithfamilythatlivein the...showmorecontent...

First,congressneedstogetabetterplantofixtheimmigrationsystemthatwillimprovethelifeto allAmericans.ImmigrantscancreatenewjobsforAmericans.FornativebornAmericans,theycan seekoutentrepreneuropportunities.Theycancreatetheirownbusinesswhichmeansnonegative wageeffects.Assaid"Immigrantscanmakeavegetablebusinessorafruitbusinessmoreviable, andthatcreatesjobsforAmericansdownstream(Mobarak2017)."Theycanalsomakeour economystrong,withtheirskillsthatupgradeourlaborforceInthearticletheauthorsays"By cuttingonimmigration,thecountrywillmissanopportunityfornewinventionsandventuresthat couldgeneratethejobsthatthepresidentissocommittedtobringback"(Hoban2017).Better immigrationslawscanaddmorebusinessopening,ademandofnewandexcitingproducts,and engineeringandtechnicaljoblaborandmakeAmericaprosperouseconomicallyas

...Getmorecontent...

Whenmovingtoanewplace,thefirstthoughtsthatcomestomind,"Movingtoadifferentschool? Meetingnewpeople?"Theterrifyingthoughtscoursedthroughmymindcausingmetofreezein coldsweatthinkingofallthehorriblethingstocomewiththisnewchapterofmylife.Regardless,I amafearlessadventurerreadytotakeoneawholenewexcitingjourneytoexoticplaces, experiencingnewcultures,meetingdifferentpeopleThisdreamisabouttocometrueasmyentire familyismovingtoadifferentcountryforchancestoimproveallofourlives.WelivedinVietnam forabout16yearspriortomovingtoU.S.A.IreminiscencethedayswhenIwouldtellmyfriends ofallthenewanduniquethingsthatIwillgetexperienceUnfortunately,thetransitionwasnotall glamorousasIimagined.Istruggledtomakefriendsandtounderstandschoolduetolanguage barriers.Iwasthelonelygirlwhosatbyherselfduringlunch.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ihadto thinkaboutgettingajobandhelpingoutmyfamily.Duringthattime,amillionthingsoverwhelmed me.Therewere...showmorecontent...

Studyingabroadallowsmetheopportunitytoexperiencecompletelydifferententertainmentand tourismsystemswhichIcanintegratetotherestofmyschoolyeartohelpmeachievemydegree. Apartfromstudying,Icanapplymynew–foundknowledgetomylifeandthewayIapproachthe worldaroundme.MyshorttermacademicgoalsaretocompletemyclasseswithA'sandobtaina Bachelor'sdegreeinBusinessAdministrationwithconcentrationinEntertainmentandTourism ManagementatCSUFby2018Aftergraduation,IseemyselfcompletingaMastersdegreewithin thenextthreeyearsinManagementandworkinginalargehotel,meetingnewpeopleandfacing challengesandovercomingthemeveryday.Iamgratefultohaveopportunitytoapplyscholarships toassistmyjourneytofulfillmy

...Getmorecontent...

PersonalNarrative:ComingToAmerica

ComingtoAmericaaboutsixyearsagoandadaptingtothenewworldprovedtobearealchallenge forme.Asidefromtheculturalshock,Ihadtoadapttotheusageofaforeignlanguageinalmost everything,whichinturnforcedmetoworkharderinmystudiesthaninthepreviousyears.My parentssacrificedalotfortheirfamily.Theylefttheircountry,theirownbusiness,andtheirfamily behindsothatmysistersandIcouldhaveabetterfutureIcametoAmericawhenIwasinthe eighthgrade.IdidnotspeakEnglishfluentlyorunderstooditverywell.WhenIgottheadmission inmiddleschoolmycounselorgavethecourseselectionsheet.Ididnotevenknowwhatcoursesto pickbecausethecourseswerealmostalieninnature,orshowmorecontent In9thgradeIhadavagueideaofwhathighschoolcreditswereandIfamiliarizedmyselfwiththe educationsystemofAmerica.Later,in12thgradeIrealizedthathadIchosentotakesome challengingclassessuchasHonorsorAPclassesearlierinhighschool,myGPAwouldhave increased.ButnowIfeelsoproudofmyselfbecauseIhaveachievedsomanythingsinjustfew yearsIbecamefluentinEnglish,adoptedtheAmericanenvironmentasmyown,andnotonlythatI becameaccomplishedinmystudiestoo.IgotmyRDA(RegisteredDentalAssistant)licensejustat theageof16inmyjunioryearofhighschool,IinternedatadentalofficeforaresearchCapstone projectwhichIpresentedattheendofmyhighschool.IgraduatedinthedistinguishedHonorRoll. Iwasalsointop3%ofmygraduatingclass,andIranked17outof546students.Finallyinmy senioryear,IwasofferedadmissionintoLoneStar'sHonorsCollegeandwasawardedtheLoneStar College–NorthHarrisChancellor'sFellowScholarship.Thereisalottoexpectinthisupcoming year.IwillbegraduatingwithAssociatesofScienceHonorsDegreebytheendof2016schoolyear. IwillbetravelingtoItalyinspringbreakforaresearchproject,andwillhaveatleast12credits hoursofinternationalstudies.InthisbriefjourneyIachievedalotandhopetoachieve

...Getmorecontent...

AftercomingtoAmericaAllpeopleseemtowantthesamebasicthingsoutofliferegardlessofrace orreligion.Universally,peoplewantagoodjob,ahealthyfamily,andachancefortheirchildrento haveabetterlifethantheonetheyhave.Familiesthatalreadypossessthesethings,whetherthrough theirownhardworkormerelybywayofinheritance,relyontheexistingpowerstructureswithin societytoensurethattheirfuturehappinesscontinuesButwhatdopeoplewhodonotbelongto existingpowerstructuresturntoinordertosecurethesethingsfortheirfamiliesandchildren?

DuringthecourseofAmerica'slifetime,millionuponmillionsofpeoplelefttheirhomesand familiesinothercountriesandtraveledtoshowmorecontent

Whilemanyrightswerenowtheirs,"onecommon,significantchangewasthatslavefamilies... couldnowlivetogether"(Foner7).Blackscouldnowjointogetherandworktowardabetterfuture, justlikeallotherAmericanscould.Becauseoftheactiveparticipationofthefederalgovernment, lawswerepassedsothatformerslavescouldenjoythebenefitsofthefreedomjustawardedtothem. InSouthCarolina,blacksdemanded"accesstoalltheopportunitiesandprivilegesenjoyedby whites"(14).BlackdelegationsinNorthCarolina,Alabama,VirginiaandTennesseeallstruggledto "secureblacksamodicumofjusticeinthelocalcourts"(15).Schoolsweresetuptoeducatethe formerslaves.Lawswerepassedthatextendedtherightsofpropertyownershipandthevote. Businesseswerestartedandchurcheswerebuilt.AlloftherightsenjoyedbyallotherAmericans werefinallybeginningtobeenjoyedbytheseformerslavesButthesegainsweretemporaryWhite southerners,accustomedtomakingthedecisionsforblacks,resentedthisnewpowerbase,and quicklycametoseethesenewleadersas"insolentboorsindulginginlegislativelicense,lordingit overdowntroddenwhites,lootingthepublictreasury"(Burns23)Whenapoliticalagreement wasmadethatrequiredthat ...Getmorecontent...

Therearemanysignificantpartsofmylifethathavehadahugeimpactonmypersonality,butthere isonethathasnotonlyaffectedme,buthaschangedmeforthebetter.Mypersonallifechanging experiencewascomingtoAmerica.Forme,thisbridgebetweenmyoldlifeandnewlifeisashaky bridgethatIattemptedtocrossandenteredawholenewrealmoflifewhichchangedeverything. ThedecisionaboutcomingtoAmericahastaughtmehowtorespectotherpeople,bemore responsible,andbemorelovingtowardsvariousfriendsandfamilies.Ithasalsohelpedmeadaptto thenewlifethatI'mabouttobegin.Itwassounexpected.Outofnowheremyparentsbrokethe news:"We'regoingtoAmerica!"LivinginabigtownofBhopal,showmorecontent

Thedecisiontobecomeadoctorandstudyreallyhardforittookawhiletogetusedto,butIfinally didit.IdecidedthatitwasalsotimetodrawacloserrelationshipwithGod.Baptizedattheageof twelve,myvisionontheworldbecameclearerandthat'swhenIunderstoodwhythingshappened thewaytheydid–whyIcametoAmerica,whyImetcertainpeople,andwhyithappenedatthat timeAllthesequestionswerefinallyansweredbyGod,whospokethroughotherpeopleatschool, churchandevenmyhome.IfinallyunderstoodwhytheIndianpeoplelivinginGreenwoodhelped usthewaytheydid;theyputthemselvesinourshoesandrealizedthattheyhadgonethroughthe sameexperience.Fromtheseexperiences,Godhashelpedmeunderstandtheimportanceofthese smallpartsoflifethatIdidn'tusetothinkaboutbefore.Thebigchangefinallymadesense!Itall happenedforareason–areasonthathasimpactedmefortherestofmylifeThetransitiontomy newlifehaschangedthewayIthinkaboutmyself,acttowardotherpeople,andunderstandGod's willformylife.ThedecisiontocometoAmericawasadecisionthatwewillneverregretmaking.–Seemoreat:

...Getmorecontent...

Steppingoutofmyfirstplaneride,Iexperienceanepiphanyofnewculture,whichseemstomeasa wholenewworld.Buzzingaroundmyearsareconversationsinanunfamiliarlanguagethat intriguesme.ItthenstruckmethataftertwentyhoursofaseeminglyperpetualplaneridethatI finallyarrivedinTheUnitedStatesofAmerica,acountryfullofnewopportunities.Itwasthis momentthatIrealizedhowdiverseandbigthisworldisThisisthestoryofmynewlifein America.Ameretwoweekspassedbysincethedayofmyarrivaltomynewhomebeforethestart ofsecondgrade.Istruggledtolearnbasicphrasesbeforethestartofschool,phrasessuchas"MayI usetherestroom?"and"Whatisthis?"Aftertimelesstries,myshowmorecontent Aftersomanyincidents,IwasdeterminedtolearnthisforeignlanguageandprovetopeoplethatI wasn'tnotlostinthiscountry.EverydayafterschoolIwouldaskmyfamilytohelpmewithmy English.Oneyearlater,Iwasabletounderstandwhatpeoplearoundmeweresaying,andIcoulddo basiccommunicationswithpeople.Schoolcametomeasanenjoyingpartofmyday,somethingI lookedforwardtowhengoingtobed,andanopportunity,agiftformetolearnthelanguageofthis newcountry.Duringthefifthgrade,aneventoccurredthatreallyshapedthewayIam.Itwasthe MathIsCoolcompetition.Iwasaveryshyperson,afraidofpeoplearoundmeanddarednotto workwithanyone.MyclassmatesknewthatIexcelledatmathandwantedmetobeapartoftheir team.Timepassesbyanditgetscloserandclosertothefirstpracticeforthecompetition.Apartof mewantstobeapartoftheteam,butabiggerpartofmesays"no"becauseI'mtooshyandafraidto doso.Everyday,myclassmateswouldtryandtalkmeintoit.Aftersometime,Ifinallygaveinand gavemyselfatry.Aftermanypractices,itwastimefortheactualcompetition.ItwasaFriday evening;ourteamgatheredbeforethecompetitionstartedinacoupleofminutesWeallgave"good lucks"tooneanotherandoffweweretothecompetition.Afterwhatseemedlikedays,itwastime fortheawardceremony.Weareabletoseeour

...Getmorecontent...

TransitioningfromtheDemocraticRepublicOfCongototheUnitedStateswasachallengethatmy familyandIhadtoovercome.Themainreasonwhywemovedwasbecausemyfatherwanteda betterlifeformysiblingsandme.Myfatherdidnotmakeenoughmoneytopayforoureducation, food,housing,andotherthings.Withthelittlemoneythathedidmake,hewouldgivesometomy momsoshecouldbuyclothesandselltheminordertoputfoodonthetableMoreoftenthannot mymomwasunabletosellanythingso,wewouldgotomyuncle'shousetoseeifhecouldprovide uswithatleastricetoeatwithsugar.Inmyfamily'seyes,atleast,thericewasbetterthannoteating atallOneday,myfather'sfriendcalledhimandtoldhimthattherewasalotterygamepeoplewere playingandifyouwon,youwouldbegiventhechancetogototheUnitedStates.Mydadwasthe onlyonefrommyfamilywhowasallowedtoplayandaftereightmonthshadpassedwewere informedthatwewon!WewereallsohappyandreadytostartanewlifeinAmerica!Thenew excitementaboutmovingtoabetter...showmorecontent...

Tohaveadeepdownexperienceonmycareergoal,Ihadtakenanopportunitytointernatthecity ofAuroraPublicDefenderOfficeduringthefallof2015whereIlearnedandgotmoreinspiredto followthisfield.Duringmyinternship,Ilearnedthatbeingalawyerismorethanwhatweseeon theTVanditcanbeveryemotionalsometimeswithcases,butseeingallthesecaseshasinspired me,evenmore,togointothisfield.Byreceivingthisscholarship,Iwillbemoremotivatedtoattend collegeandpursuemydreamofbecominganimmigrationlawyerWithmyfamilyeconomy situation,myparentscan'taffordtopayformypost–secondaryeducationsoreceivingthis scholarshipwillextremelyhelp

...Getmorecontent...

Nowaday,therearemanypeopleleavingtheirnativecountriestocometoAmericaforlife opportunitiessuchasfreeeducation.First,inmostcountriesitisveryhardforachildtogoto school.Ifyourparentdoesn'thavemoneyyoucan'tgotoschool.Forexample,Istillremember whenIwasintheagetostartschoolbackinmycountry,Iwasn'tabletogobecausemyparent didn'thavemoneyandtheschoolfeewasveryhighSecond,manyimmigrantschoosestocometo Americantogivetheirchildrenanopportunitiestobeabletogotoschool.Theydon'thavetoworry thattheirkidswouldstayhomebecausetheydon'thavethemoneytopay,butinstanceitajoyful momentforthemMoreover,mostfamilychoosetocomehereagainbecause

...Getmorecontent...

ComingToAmerica

"Ajourneyofathousandmilesbeginswithasinglestep."Truerwordshaveneverbeenspoken. ComingtoAmericawasmygreatestadventureandmybiggestfear.Ihadnevertraveledtoaforeign countrybefore.Iwasintriguedabouttheculture,thepeople,andthecountryitself.Whatwillitbe like?WillIbeabletoadjusttothatpaceoflife?WillImakenewfriends?Iwouldhavetofind answerswithexperienceMovingtoanothercountrymeantstartinganewlifeoveragain,inan unfamiliarplacewithstrangersihavenevermet.Beingthe"newkid"isnevercomfortable.Coming fromaforeigncountrywhereenglishisasecondlanguage,Ididn'tknowhowtocommunicate.How wasIgoingunderstandtheinformationinschool?HowwillIcreatenewfriendshipswithout speaking?Allthesequestionsplaguedme.AsIsatquietlyeverydaytryingtoavoidmakingasound, hopingnottogetcalledontoansweraquestionorspeakoutloudintheclass,Iwastryingtomake clearofwhatthesepeopleweresaying.Irealizedthatjustsittingthereandlisteningwouldn'thelp mebetterspeakEnglish;IhadbeguntryingtospeakenglishwithmyfathersoIcanbecomemore fluentAftermonthsofdedication,Iwasunderstandingandspeakingalanguagecompletely differenttomine.Thatwasbyfarthemostdifficult...showmorecontent...

Myinitialattemptsintomeetingpeoplewerenotverysuccessful.Thefeelingofbeingalone intensified.EverydaymymotherwouldaskmyifIhadmadeanyfriendsatschool,Iwassickand tiredofanswering"no."Thejoyofactuallybeinginanewcountrywasslowlybeingovershadowed bythelonelinessAdefinitechangeinmybehaviorwasneededThiswastheturningpointwhich motivatedmetochange.Istartedtobecomemoreselfaware,startedtostepoutofmycomfortzone, startedtobecomemoresocial.ThiswasrewardedwhenImetmycurrentgroupoffriendswhoare withmetillthis

...Getmorecontent...

TheUnitedStatesofAmericaisaveryuniquecountryfornumerousreasons.Oneparticularlygood reasonisourgreatculturaldiversity.Weaveddeepintoourhistoryarethetalesofpeopletraveling overseastotheNewWorldlookingforbetterlives.Ofcourse,notallthesetaleshavehappyendings (orhappybeginnings,oranyhappinessanywhereinsomecases),butregardless,learningaboutour nation'smigratoryhistoryisveryimportantImmigrationisaveryserioustopicofdiscussionin today'sheatedpoliticalclimate;whateveryourstanceoftheissuemaybe,it'shandytohavesome knowledgeofthesubject,asitcouldaffectyouropinionsonitinasubstantialway.Weshould discusswhereandwhyimmigrantscametoourshores,howlegislatorshavetriedtostopthem,and whatimpactthey'veleftonourcountrytoday.ThehistoryofimmigrationtotheU.S.isquitevast. MostoftheearlyimmigrantswerefromEurope,astheyweretheoneswhocolonizedtheNew Worldinthe1500s.Ittook2–3monthstosailacrosstheAtlantic,andmanypeoplediedduetothe abhorrentconditionsontheships.Thingsgotofftoatroublingstart,tosaytheleast.Manysettlers clashedwiththenativepeople,andtheformerinadvertentlybroughtwiththemnewdiseasessuchas smallpox.Likewise,theslavetradeexistedasearlyas1619,bringingoverhundredsofAfrican peopleagainsttheirwill("ImmigrationTimeline").Religiousfreedom,oneofourfounding principles,also

...Getmorecontent...

ComingtoAmericaNarrativeEssayCollegeWritingIMynameisAngelaS.Baez,andyoucancall meAngela.IamfromtheDominicanRepublic.InthisessayIwouldliketotellyouastoryabout myexperienceincomingtotheUSA.IwasveryhappywhenIfoundoutmydaughterandI receivedfullresidencystatusfromtheUSA.WewouldbemovingtoNewYorkCitySometimes,I feltnervous,becauseitwasmyfirsttimetogotoanothercountry,whichusedadifferentlanguage thanmycountry.Ialsohadtoleavemyfamilyforalongtime.However,Itriedtokeepstrongand calm.IknewitwasagoodchoicetomovetotheU.S.Wedepartedfrommyhometown (Montecristi)toSantoDomingoonApril12,1993at7:00amIwentshowmorecontent

Thosehadbeenthelongest4hoursofmylife.WhentheplanefinallylandedinNewYork,I remembereveryonecheeringandclapping.WehadmadeittoAmerica.Ilookedthroughthe windowandsawaplacecompletelydifferentthanwhatIhadeverknown.Iimmediatelystartedto feelthechillyweatherofNewYork.Ihadneverexperiencedcoldtemperature,butIcameprepared withalightjacketandsweaterformydaughterandmeWhenwegotoffoftheplane,itwasabrand newexperienceforme.IwasnowinacountrythatIhadneverbeentobefore,andwhereIdidnot knowthelanguagespoken.IwasnervousthatIwouldnotbeabletocommunicatewithanyone. Aftergoingthroughcustoms,Ifoundmyhusband.Hehuggeduscheerfullybecausehehadnotseen usintwoyears,sinceourdaughterwasborn.HehadmovedtotheUnitedStatesinthe80'sin searchforabetterfuture,forbetteropportunitiesforhisfamilyAfterhehuggedus,hetookus outsidetheairporttothecar.Itwasreallycold.Theairportwasabouthalfanhourawayfromwhat wasgoingtobeournewhomeintheBronx.Ilookedatthecitythroughthewindowanddidnotlike whatIsawThecityItlookedbrownandugly,andthetreeshadnoleavesyetThatAprilwas especiallycoldforme.MovingtotheUnitedStateswasadifficultexperienceforme.AtfirstIfelt likeIhadnofamily.Ionlyhadmydaughterandmyhusband.Butthingshavechangedfor

...Getmorecontent...

ComingToAmericaThemes

ComingtoAmericaisafictionalfilmaboutaprinceseekingfortruelovewhileRaininDryLandis adocumentaryportraystherefugees'livesintheAmerica.Therefore,thosetwomovieshave fundamentallydifferenttopicsandthemes.InComingtoAmerica,Akeemisfromroyalfamilybut heisnotsatisfiedwithhislivesincehehasnocontrolofeverythingincludinghismarriage, shower'sstyleandlifestyleInhisengagementceremony,hedecidestraveltoAmericainorderto findhisownqueenthathasherownthoughtanddoesn'tobeytohissocialstatus.Akeemstaysat Queen,apoorneighborhood,becausehebelieveshewouldfindhisqueeninQueen.Also,Akeem covershistrueidentityandpretendsasapoorstudentsowomanwouldnotshowmorecontent AkeemspeaksperfectEnglishwithoutaccentandnoonespeaksanotherkindoflanguagebetween English.WhenAkeemmeetshispeopleinthebasketballgame,thosetwomenalsoonlyspeaks English.ComparedtoRaininDryLand,thoserefugeeshavetolearnbasicEnglishsuchasalphabet andnumbersotheycancommunicateinAmerica.Someofthemreallystruggletolearnanew languagesotheycannotgotoworkAlso,unlikemosttheAfricansfilmswhichpeoplearepoorand fromaruralarea,ComingtoAmericaisaboutarichman.Therefore,theappealofthepeoplearefur andgold,andtherearetooexaggerated.Inmostparts,themoviesecenthatadoptWesternculture notAfricansuchastheweddingstyle,structureofthepalace,musicandfood.Thosecannot representthetrueAfrianculture.Inthecontrary,RaininDryLandsuccessfullyportraystheAfrian experienceWhenthemothertrystobuychickeninafast–foodrestaurant,sheneedstoseethefood beforeshemakesthepurchasebecauseitisthewaysheusedtoinAfrian.Moreover,beforethe refueecometoAmerica,theyhavetolearntheAmericacultures.Forinstance,theyarenotallowed tophysicalpunishtheirchildrenotherwisetheirchildrenwilltakeawayfromthemUnconsented sexisrape.ComingtoAmericadoessucceddedinportraytheAmericanstyleinonepart:dialects.

AlthouhAkemmspeaksfluentEnglish.Buthecound't

...Getmorecontent...

Thereareeventsinlife,whichcanchangeyourselforyourwayofthinking.Asforme,Ithinkthe majorchangeinmylifeoccurredwhenImovedfromFrancetoAmerica.Thischangehasentirely affectedmypersonality.Why?IarrivedintheUnitedStatesduringthesummerof2002.Itwas reallyhardformesincemyparentshadonlytoldmeaboutthemoveinAprilofthatyear. Therefore,IdidnothavethetimetopreparemyselfpsychologicallyMyparentshadtalkedabout cominghereforaverylongtime,evenbeforeIwasborn.Everythingstartedin1973.Indeed,my parentscamefromIrantoEuropeinordertofinishtheirstudiesandthentoreturnbackhome. However,evenatthattime,theyhadnotsettheirmindastowheretheyshowmorecontent Theystartedworkingandoverthecourseoftime,mysisterandIwereborn.However,myparents alwayskeptthinkingaboutthe"U.S.project."In1997,wegotPermanentResidentCards,thanksto mygrandmotherwhohasbeeninAmericaforovertwentyyears.SincetheIranianRevolutionin 1979,myparentshadplannedoncomingtoAmerica,buttheyalwaysjusttalkedaboutit.Inever thoughttheywerecommittedtomakingthemoveThen,inJanuary2000,mysistercameto Americatocompleteherstudiesandtosettlehere.ShehadalwaysdreamedoflivingintheUnited States.Thatisthereasonwhyshedecidedtomovetothiscountry.Then,inApril2002,myparents madeoneofthehardestandthemostdelicatedecisionsoftheirlives:theyfinallymadethedecision tomovetoAmerica.Itwasnoteasytomakethatdecisionbecauseitwouldrequiremyparentsto leavethecomfortoftheirjobs,theirhouses,theircarsandtheirfriendsinFranceOncethedecision made,andfourmonthslater,myparentsandIfinallymovedtotheUnitedStates.AsfarasIam concerned,movingtotheUnitedStateshastaughtmealot.Indeed,eventhoughIhadalreadycome tothiscountryseveraltimesbeforeforvacation,therearealotofaspectsthatIhadnotthought about.Forinstance,itspeople,theirmentalities,theculture,thesystemespeciallyineducation. WhenIfirstarrived,IhadahardtimetransitioningfromtheFrenchtotheAmericansystem.In addition,the

...Getmorecontent...

ComingtoAmericabyFabriceKalamba, MyfamilyandIcametoAmericainsearchofabetterlife.Thejourneywasalonganddangerous, butintheend,itwasbetterformyfamilyandme.IamfromtheCongoofcentralAfricaandatthe timethecountryhadbeguntorecoverfromthewar,butlifewasharsh.Livingconditionswerebad. Foodandwaterwerescarce,andsoldierswouldroamthestreetsterrorizinginnocentvillagersBut theworstproblemscamefromhome.

MyfatherwasbornandraisedinCongo.HewasabusinessmanandaChristianaswell.Mymother wasahousewife,hadtoraise10childrenandcareforherparentsThiswasthecustomwayoflife formostfamiliesinourcountry.Thefuturelookeddimtomyfamilyaftermydad's

...Getmorecontent...

Lifeisaboutmakingchoices,butsomeofthemcanevenchangeourlife.TwoyearsagoIdecided tocometoAmericaformyhigherstudiesinWesternKentuckyUniversity.AlthoughIknewitwas reallyachallengetome,thissignificantdecisionthatI'vemadewasgoingtochangeeverything aboutmylifeandme.Therearemanythingsinlifethatcanchangethecourseofaperson'slife.It caneithermakeapositiveimpactoranegativeimpactonaperson'slifeIt'salwaysbesttohavethe positiveimpactthough.FormeIhavehadapositiveexperiencethathaschangedmylifeforever andthatiscomingtoadifferentlandandculture.

Therearealotofsurprisingandsometimesdifficultthingsthatimpresseswhenyouarrivedin a...showmorecontent...

Arrivinginanewcountrywasexcitinganddiscomforting.Americaisawonderfulplacetolive, whichisfullofadventureandchallenges.IwasattractedbytheWesternculture.Meanwhile, differentlanguagesalsotroubledme.AlthoughIbegantolearnEnglishinelementaryschoolfrom ABC,mylisteningandoralabilitiestendnottobeadequateIhavetostudyhardtoimprovemy English,sothatIcanunderstandwhatthepeoplesaid.

SinceIcametoAmerica,Imadegreatprogressnotonlywithforeignlanguagesbutalsowithmy adaptivecapabilities.FromwhatIsaw,read,andtalkedwithmyfriends,IrealizedthatIam improvingmoreandmore.Inthepasttwoyears,Ilearnedalotmorehere.Thisexperiencenotonly broadensmyviewbutalsoenrichesmylifeItchangedmylifeforthegood Iamachangedandabetterperson,Ihavedirectionformylife,andIhaveanamazingfriendcircle. Ihaveacquiredthenewwaythething'saredonearoundhereandgowiththeflow,while maintainingmyoldvaluesandcustomsAccordingtomepeoplecometotheStatestopursuemany interests.Butinmyopinion,comingtothiscountryasastudentisthebestwaytofeelitspulse. Untilnowmyexperiencesinthiscountryhadbeenveryspecialtome.Forthefirsttime,Ihadtobe awayfrommyfamily.Iwasforcedtomakeeverydecisionwithoutbeingreliantonthewisdomof elders.Forthefirsttime,Isawandspoketo

...Getmorecontent...

Transitionsareneveraneasythingtoconquer.Itisoftenhardandstressfultocopewithchangesto one'ssurrounding,butinthecasesinwhichonemanagestoconquerthisobstacle,elevationof knowledgeandexperiencearegreatresultsgainedfromthisachievement.Ioriginallycamefrom AfricaandrecentlymovedtotheUnitedStatestojoinmymotherandmystepfather.Thisgreat changeinthethingsIhadbecomeaccustomedtoinmydailylifewasnoteasy,furthermoretaking intoaccountthefactthatIhadneverexperiencedatransitionsolittleasshiftingfromoneresidence toanother.MyjourneyallbeganasItookmyfirststepsonAmericansoil.Itwasinthemonthof Februaryandthesnowstilllinedtheedgesofshowmorecontent

Inthedaysleadinguptomyschoolenrollmentinhighschool,Iwonderedwhatthisnewschool systemwouldbelikeandifIcouldmanagetocopeandblendinwiththerestofthecrowdwithout losingmyuniquecharacteristics.Otherthanthat,Iwasfilledwithgreatexuberancebeginningto buildthefoundationofmydestinedcareerasapharmacistatthesametimeincreasingmyskillsasa woodscraftsmanThedayIhadbeencontemplatingfinallyarrivedIwasrequiredtocompletea placementtestinordertodeterminewhatlevelIwasoninthegroundsofacademics.This,asIhad wished,iswhatledtomebeingacceptedintoanAPchemistrycourse.Inlessthanaweekof startingthechemistrycourseIwastopoftheclassandinmynaturalcharacterofhelpingothers helpedmyclassmatesatanytimethattheyaskedforhelporclarificationonacertaintopic.This attitudetohelpothersinitselfiswhathelpedmeforgefriendshipswithnotonlythestudentsbutthe teachersaswell.SimilarlyintimeswhenIwouldbehavingstrugglestounderstandsomethingbeing taughtIwouldfinditinmyownpowertogogetclarificationfromanyteacherdealinginthat particularfieldofstudyThereafter,Iwouldhelpothersstrugglingwiththesamepredicamentsoas tobroadenmyunderstandingatthesametimeshareknowledgeuponthesametopic.InSeptember ofmysenioryear,Iwasshiftedtoalargerhigh

...Getmorecontent...

Peoplecometoamerica,expectingsomewheretheycanbettertheirlives,butincurrent circumstances,Americaisnotalandofopportunityforimmigrants,andwomen.Thereisthefact thatItisdifficulttohaveagoodlifeinAmericaforimmigrants,WomeninAmericadon'thaveas muchopportunityaswomeninothercountries,andImmigrantsdon'thaveasmuchopportunitywith jobandeconomicsastheyshouldImmigrantscometoamerica,hopingtohaveachancetobetter theirlives,butItisdifficulttohaveagoodlifeinAmericaifyouareanimmigrant.Justtostart,you havetobecomeacitizen,butItisdifficulttobecomeauscitizenbecause,afterestablishing eligibility,youhavetofilloutpaperwork,whichcosts$680Ifitcoststhatmuchjusttofillout paperwork,...showmorecontent...

Our3rdargumentstatesthatImmigrantsdon'thaveasmuchopportunitywithjobandeconomicsas theyshould.Immigrantshavelessopportunitieswithjobsbecause,halfofwelleducatedimmigrants areunemployedorinjobstheyareoverqualifiedfor.Thismeansanimmigrantcannotbeaccepted intoajobbecausetheyeitherarenotaccepted,orbeingpassedoverforajobthattheyarequalified for.Iftheycan'tevengetajobtheyarequalifiedfor,theyobviouslycan'thaveagoodlife.With thesefactsweprovethatAmericaisnotalandofopportunityforimmigrants,andwomen.We believethatitisdifficulttohaveagoodlifeinAmericaforimmigrants,WomeninAmericadon't haveasmuchopportunityaswomeninothercountries,andImmigrantsdon'thaveasmuch opportunitywithjobandeconomicsastheyshouldIfwecallourselvesthelandofopportunity,but notallpeoplehaveopportunitiestohaveabetterlifethantheypreviouslyhad,thenwearenotthe landofopportunity,andsomethingneedsto

...Getmorecontent...