ESL Voices 2026

ESL 2026 Voices

Writings, Poems and Essays by Students of English as a Second Language

Community College

Cuyahoga

ESL 2026 Voices

Writings, Poems and Essays by Students of English as a Second Language

Editors:

Becca Aronhalt Yokum, West

David Napuk, West

Lisa Friel, Westshore

Judging Committee:

Alayna Klco, West

Monica Tofan, West

Nick Prokup, Metro

Zel Gabriel, Metro

Art Direction:

Song-Ae Mun, West

Cover Art:

Noelle Wadsworth, Student, West

Design and Layout:

Noelle Wadsworth , Student, West

Contributing Faculty:

Becca Aronhalt Yokum, West

Daiva Berzinskas, Metro

David Napuk, West

Judth Olson-Hammer, West

Kathleen Molzan, West/Metro

Katie Windahl, Westshore

Khrystyna Kokodynska, Westshore

Lisa Friel, Westshore

Maria Schock, Metro

Ryan Rodriguez, West

Tricia Sams, Westshore/Metro

Background and Mission

In 1991, Mara Hegedeos, Assistant Professor of English/English as a Second Language, collected ESL student essays college-wide and put them under one cover. Thus ESL Voices was born. Since that time, the mantle has been taken up by faculty from the diferent campuses, with heroic eforts to secure funding in the earlier years. We do appreciate the eforts of all those editorial teams, and we especially appreciate the current administration’s support – both moral and fnancial – of the publication of this edition of ESL Voices.

ESL Voices showcases the writing of our international, immigrant, and citizen English-language students and recognizes two important facts: the ability to write well is hard work, and the ability to write well in a second language is twice that. Through ESL Voices, Cuyahoga Community College acknowledges the achievements of its ESL students, celebrates their diversity, and motivates continued writing improvement.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the following people whose support and encouragement helped make this year’s ESL Voices a reality: Timothy Elsey, Associate Dean, Liberal Arts, Western Campus; Shamuire Spivey, Associate Dean, Liberal Arts, Eastern Campus; Kate Vodicka, Associate Dean, Liberal Arts, Metro Campus; Constance Edwards, Associate Dean, Liberal Arts, Westshore Campus; and Laronda Adkins, Unit Operations Specialist III, Western Campus.

We would also like to give a special thanks to Seong-Ae Mun for her help, guidance, and work in this cross-curriculum collaboration between ESL and graphic arts, and to Noelle Wadsworth, a Visual Communication and Graphic Design student, for her creative cover art and layout design for this edition of ESL Voices.

Loved Ones

My Information

Rahaf Abdalftah

Jordan, Basic Level

My name is Rahaf. I have a small family. My mom Randa is selling homemade food. My father Bassam is welding. I have one brother and one sister. I am the middle child. I am twenty one years old. My brother Mohamed is twenty fve years old. He lives in Jordan. I miss him. I hope I can see him soon in a summer. My sister Lujain is twenty years old. She is a student like me. My parents live in Ohio with me. We are a very happy family. I love my family a lot.

My Son

Maha Ibrahim

Egypt, Level 1

My son Yasin is the most handsome young man I have ever seen. He is 15 years old. He is a teenager. His height is average. He is athletic. He has muscles. He has brown and curly hair. He likes his hair. He has wide, dark brown eyes. He always wears glasses or contact lenses.

His face is oval, and he has dimples. He has a big mole on his forehead. He has light beard. He likes to wear t-shirts and shorts. He does not likes to wear formal clothes. He plays basketball on his school team, and he is a good swimmer too. He often goes to the gym. He likes eat healthy food. Yasin is talkative and smart, and he has a lot of friends.

He is funny. He is loved by all of his family. He is my youngest son, so I always feel like he is a little boy to me.

My Fifth Son is My Rock

Liudmyla Mateiko

Ukraine, Level 1

When I got pregnant with my ffth child, I already had four children. We had only lived in America for a year. It was completely unexpected, especially considering that I had been taking birth control pills and could not understand how this had happened.

For about fve months, I could not to decide about what to do. It was the hardest decision of my life. We had just moved from Ukraine, where there was war, and I was just starting to rebuild my life: learning to drive, working part-time, planning to study, and build a future for my children. Another child and a break from my usual life were not part of my plans.

I knew that this was my responsibility, and no one could decide for me, advise me. Then one thought that arose in my head changed everything. In Ukraine, parents cry, burying their children who died in the war. So, why should I cry, if God gave me a chance to give life to another child? After that, I stopped afraid, and I fnally decided to keep the pregnancy.

When my son was born, I couldn’t believe my eyes, because he looked like a doll. He is now a year and a half old and my family rarely call him by his name. We call him: “Our little doll”. All my children adore him and always ask: “Where is our little doll?”

He is incredibly special, and everyone loves him very much. I am happy that I made such a difcult but still the best decision. I don’t sufer, because I could have made the wrong choice that would never have allowed me to live in peace. Now, I have my ffth child, who is the only one in our family who was born on American soil.

My Best Friend

Tetiana Buchenko

Ukraine, Level 1

My best friend’s name is Olga, and we have known each other for 30 years. We are from the same city, Bucha, and we were in the same class at school. We always had fun together, and it was always interesting for us. We liked to travel and spend time together. She lives in Ukraine now, and I miss her very much. Even though we are busy, we always fnd time to chat. All in all, I am very happy because my friend Olga makes my life happier.

My Best Friend

Kateryna Voznyj

Ukraine, Level 1

I have many friends, but only one best friend. Her name is Irina. We met in our childhood. We have been friends for many years. She lives in Ukraine with her family. I miss her so much. She is very friendly and talkative. She calls me every weekend, and we always have something to talk about. We always maintain each other. She is like a sister for me. I hope we’ll meet again soon.

My Best Friend

Marharyta Ataman

Ukraine, Level 2

There have been many people and events in my life, but one person played a very signifcant role for me. Her name was Suhad and she was my best friend. She was originally from Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. We met in Turkey when I lived there with my daughter from 2011-2022.

The frst impression I had of her was endless. She was an overly kind person who always tried to help me with everything. Her support was boundless. We often had picnics and our children were friends. She taught me to be kind, to be attentive to details, and always to be a support for loved ones and relatives. When I needed help with my child, she never said “no.” She was like a second mother to my daughter. One day she told me her story about her youth, how she rose to the top, and how it was difcult for her. I listened to her with great interest and thought how patient and strong she was!

In the Muslim world, getting a high position for women is almost impossible, but she did it. Then she got married and gave birth to a child. During childbirth, she almost died. It took 4 liters of blood to save her. It is a terrible experience and it proves once again how strong she was. I admired her, her positive attitude, her smile, and oriental beauty.

She is not with us now. She passed away in 2025 at age 49. I was very upset about this because we were best friends. The distance between us was like a big ocean. She was living in Baghdad, Iraq when she passed away. She left this world, but I remember her. She was the best person from my past life. Her friendship was the best thing that could have happened to me. After all, a trace of her kindness will always remain in my heart.

Hapy Place

Two Cities in Mexico

Juany Suarez

Mexico, Basic Level

Mexico is a big country. It is in the Central America. Guadalajara and Monterey are two cities in Mexico. Guadalajara is on the West. It is beautiful and dangerous. It is an important city, but it is not the capital of Mexico. Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. Monterrey is in the north of the country. Monterrey is modern, busy and beautiful. In Monterrey, the people are friendly and very hard-working. Monterrey is very hot in summer and cold in winter. Monterrey is an industrial city.

Two Cities in Iraq

Rasha Al Hadrawy

Iraq, Basic Level

Iraq is good country. It is in Middle East. Babylon and Baghdad two cities in Iraq. Babylon is not capital of Iraq. It is very old city. Baghdad is the capital of Iraq. It is the center of the country. It is ancient historic. It is very crowded and loud. It is very hot in summer. Sometimes the temperature is 54 or 57 degrees. The people are very kind and lovely. I love my country.

Three Cities in Albania

Franceska Binaj

Albania, Basic Level

Albania is a small country. It is in Europe. Vlora is a city in Albania. It’s great. It is cold in winter. It is hot in summer. It is a touristy city. Tirana is the capital of Albania. It is in the east of Albania. It is a modern city, and the people are friendly. Fieri is another city in Albania. It is in South Albania. It is a beautiful city. People are friendly. Albania is a small country but has many historic city, and they are very beautiful.

Two Cities in Jordan

Rahaf Abdalftah

Jordan,

Basic Level

Jordan is a big country. It is in the Middle East. Ajloun and Jerash are two cities in Jordan. Ajloun in northern Jordan. It is beautiful calm and inexpensive, but it is not the touristy of Jordan. Amman is touristy in Jordan. It is in the north west of Jordan. It is a friendly, crowded and large city. It is hot in summer and cold in winter. The people are very kind and busy. I love Jordan because it is a wonderful country.

The Place That Became Home

Lina Dovgopolova

Ukraine, Level 1

Our new house is gradually winning our hearts and flling our lives with memories and love. We bought our house three months ago. As soon as we saw it, we decided it would be our home.

We have a lot of work to do. We are doing renovations—painting ceilings and walls, and replacing doors and foors. Sometimes we think this was a mistake, but we don’t give up. Now our house is beautiful, cozy, and warm.

There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a big basement, a garage, and a living room. My favorite place is the living room. There are two large windows that let in sunlight and make the room feel cheerful. In the corner under the windows, there is a playground for our cats. We have three pets—one dog and two cats. The cats love to watch what is happening outside.

On the left side, there is a large TV on a stand. To the right of the TV, there is a bookshelf. There are several books and board games on it. Opposite the TV, there is a sofa, a comfortable armchair, and a cofee table.

The living room is divided into two areas. There are three light beige walls, and one wall is dark red. On the other side of the room, there is a large wooden table with a modern lamp above it. We like to spend time together. In the evening, we watch cooking shows like “MasterChef” and play board games. Every day our house becomes more familiar to us and truly becomes our home. Here we feel comfortable and protected. With each passing day, we feel that this home will stay in our hearts forever.

My Kitchen

Marharyta Ataman

Ukraine,

Level 1

My favorite place in the house is the kitchen. Whenever I have free time, I always spend it cooking our favorite food and enjoy it. We have a large and spacious kitchen, so the whole family can be there.

The kitchen cabinets are made of wood and are brown in color. It goes well with the green and marble countertops. All electronic equipment is black that creates a contrast with interior. The refrigerator and stove are on the right and dishwasher is on the left. We have several antique items, that are located on the top above the door to the yard. These items are decorative and create a unique look. The lighting is very good and bright which makes it very comfortable to be in the kitchen and cook food. The walls are white with small windows and white blinds. Also, there is a sliding door in the kitchen and opens to the yard. There are many fowers and several trees there. The foor is made of wood, and there is a rug under the large kitchen table. Every day the singing of birds can be heard from the garden, and it is very beautiful.

I love spending time in the kitchen and delight my loved ones with delicious lunches and dinners.

My Kitchen

Maha Ibrahim

Egypt, Level 1

My kitchen is the closest place to my heart. I spend most of my time in it. After I wake up in the morning, I smell my cofee coming from it. I have a bright, large, dark oak kitchen. It has a massive island in the middle with red roses in a vase. On top of the island, there are beautiful, sparkling marble countertops. On the right side of the kitchen, there is a double oven, a fridge, and a cofee corner. There is a modern cooktop on the back wall, with a large exhaust fan above it. I prepare delicious meals on it. The sink and dishwasher are on the left side of the kitchen. When I stand in front of the sink, I can see outside through the window between the cabinets. There are three barstools around the island. Above the island, there is a beautiful rectangular crystal chandelier. Next to the kitchen, there is a dining table with four chairs. The foor is covered with a nice beige rug. When you sit at the dining table, you can see a beautiful green tree in the backyard. My family and I talk and have fun when we eat. I also sit there with my friends, and my kids do their homework there. I am good at baking, so you can smell cakes and fresh bread all the time. Truly, my kitchen is the most important part of my home.

My Vacation in Turkey

Maha Ibrahim

Egypt, Level 1

My vacation in Turkey in July 2025 was one of the most memorable vacations of my life. We heard a lot about Turkey. First, my husband, two kids, and I arrived in Istanbul. After we arrived, we slept because we were exhausted. It was a long trip. Our vacation was eight days, and we spent four days in Istanbul and four days in Antalya. On the frst day at night, we had a dinner at a restaurant in front of the Bosphorus; the view was spectacular. Then we walked to the Galata Tower, took nice pictures, ate dessert, and had cofee. On the second day, we woke up early at eight o’clock. We had delicious breakfast. Then we went to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which has a very nice architecture. Then we went to the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern; all of them were magnifcent. Before we went back to the hotel, we had lunch. At night we took a dinner cruise. On the third day in the morning, we took breakfast cruise to see seagulls. At noon, we decided to spend all day shopping. At last day, we arrived to the airport to reach Antalya. We booked a lovely resort, enjoyed the beach, and relaxed. We did jet ski, para sailing, and water sports, which they were exciting. Finally, we few back home. Really I agree it was thebest vacation we spent and enjoyed together.

My Beloved Odesa

Olesia Kranhach

Ukraine, Level 2

Have you ever heard of Odesa? Yes, Ukrainian Odesa! Well, let me tell you about it. Odesa is the best city in Ukraine. It is also known as the “Pearl by the Sea”. I will present a few facts about this city. First, Odesa founded in 1794, with a unique character, humor, and an interesting history. Its location on the shores of the Black Sea makes this beautiful city magical. Built and developed of the city by the French Duke Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis de Richelieu, appointed by Alexander I. Secondly, under the city are the longest urban catacombs in the world, the total length of which is more than 2.5 thousand kilometers. Next, many nationalities live in this beautiful city — Ukrainians, Jews, Bulgarians, Gagauz, Romanians, Moldovans, Greeks, Russians, Turks, Tatars, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Albanians and more. For this reason, it is very picturesque city. The cuisines of all nations have intertwined here and that is why it is so delicious. Oh, and you still haven’t heard of the local market called “Privoz”. It’s incredible — fresh Black Sea fsh, fresh vegetables and fruit, oriental spices, and an abundance of delicious things. I’ll never forget that smell, the true scent of Odesa. Beautiful beaches, a warm sea, and open-hearted people with a sense of humor—this is the heart of Odesa. In conclusion, I would like to say that once you visit Odesa, you will never forget it and you will defnitely want to return.

My Trip to Paris

Mariana Hiltaichuk

Ukraine, Level 2

*Second Prize Winner

My trip to Paris was so magical and inspiring. I wanted to go to Paris since I saw the Eifel Tower in a movie. When I was a young girl, I dreamed about big love. And here we are, I am almost 30 years old, and I am married happily with my handsome husband. Finally, we decided to try to have a baby. Very soon it happened. After I knew that I was pregnant, I thought that it was our last chance to visit Paris. I wasn’t thinking a long time, I just told my husband: “Let’s do it!”. After that, I planned everything by myself. I bought the tickets, called our friends who lived in Paris, and packed my suitcase. It was a lovely, sunny day when we landed in France. We came to our friends, unpacked our baggage, and went to downtown. The frst place that we visited in Paris was the Eifel Tower. We took a blanket, a bottle of champagne, and just sat on the grass nearby the Eifel Tower. We were waiting when the lights turned on. When it happened I couldn’t stop my tears, it was one of happiest moments of my life. It was so bright, powerful and magical at the same time. The next day, we planned to visit a few places. We started from a nice small restaurant, we ate croissants and drank cofee with an amazing view. People around us just walked and smiled. No more rush. Just us and the most romantic place in the world. After our delicious breakfast, we went to walk around fancy stores like Chanel and others. Then, we fnally came to the Louvre, I heard beautiful music from a musician who played a violin close to us, and I just started to dance. I felt this warm feeling inside — it was happiness. I defnitely was in the right place. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go inside the Louvre, because there was a very long line to wait, so I decided to go to another place. The day after that, we walked a lot. We visited many places like parks, streets with beautiful architecture, we tried diferent macarons, eclairs, and pancakes. And fnally, in the and of the day we came to Basilica. Near this Basilica we found a place with an amazing view of Paris. We just took of our shoes, sat on the ground, and enjoyed the moment. That beautiful sunset will be in my memory forever - just the right place and the right people with you.

Summer Days

Sixta Guerra Torres

Dominican Republic, Level 2

Summer is my favorite season, I like to watch birds fy and dance in the sky, that’s one reason.

I love colors of butterfies; These are a joy to my garden and my eyes.

I enjoy the sun and bright days

Sometimes I feel like a bird, singing in a daze.

I love running on hot, wet sea.

Listening to the nature song where the sea is like a band. It relaxes me and gives peace of my mind

Everything is diferent, even the weather is kind.

Fables & Fairytales

Fairytale

Karen Navarro Cruz

Costa Rica, Level 1

Once upon a time, there was a princess that was very beautiful and many young people wanted to marry her. Her father, the king, just wanted her to marry a prince so that he could bring benefts to the kingdom.

But the princess whose name was Tifany, loved the son of the real cook. His name was Robert. They grew up playing in the palace, and they had a beautiful relationship. For years, they had hidden their love, but now the situation was complicated. The king wanted to marry her by force, and he would never allow them to get married.

The couple decided to escape far away so they could be together. The king saw that he would not see his daughter again and seeing the mistake he had made, he decided to look for Tifany.

Tifany returned and now she could freely choose who she wanted to marry. She married Robert, and some time later, her father, the king, died. Now, she will be the queen and with the help of her husband they have a kingdom that is very prosperous and good. They have children and they live happily ever after.

Twins

Pamela Guerra

Colombia, Level 1

Once upon a time, a family was very poor from Venezuela. The man and woman had twins. They were very cute. Everyone who saw them appreciated their beauty. One day, the woman and man couldn’t feed the twins. The twins were named Ana and Maria.

Maria, being the youngest, got sick and her parents didn’t have enough to feed them both. Maria had a terrible fever and cried all the time. At the moment, a family

of Colombian tourists arrived asking for some water because they couldn’t fnd the nearest market to buy some. And the twins’ parents kindly gave them water. Then, the Colombian family saw the beautiful twins and also saw that Maria was terribly ill and could die.

The woman was crying for the situation of her daughter and she talked with the Colombian family that her daughter needed help and gave her up for adoption.

The Colombian family took Maria with them to Colombia, and Maria grew up healthy. But she never stopped dreaming about her twin sister. She was very worried about her in her dreams. And her parents decided to tell her the truth. They told her that she did have a twin sister and that her real parents gave her up for adoption because they were very poor and she was seriously ill, on the verge of death. Maria returned to Venezuela because she wanted to meet her sister and her other parents.

Finally, she got together with her sister and her parents. Everyone gave a huge hug and Maria stopped dreaming about Ana.

Fairytale

Oleh Antipov

Ukraine, Level 1

Once upon a time, there lived a small country. Her name was Ukraine. She lived 22 years without problems. But she had a bad neighbor. His name was Russia. One day in 2014, Russia attacked Ukraine. But two years pushed and she stopped attacking. Ukrainians thought the war ended, but in 2022 Russia attacked again. Ukrainians defended their land again. They united to protect freedom. Their strength and courage pushed the enemy back. The war ended. Ukraine has freedom again, and the world supports it. Hope has come back.

Fairytale

Ahou Victoire Oussou Espe Nda

Ivory Coast, Level 1

Once upon time, there lived a man and a woman. They had one girl. Her name was Cendrilla. One day, her mother fell sick and died. Her father took a new wife.This wife became Cendrilla’s stepmother. She had two girls, and she was very bad and mean. She didn’t like Cendrilla. Cendrilla was a beautiful and nice girl, but she was afraid of her stepmother. Cendrilla did all the work in the home. She was considered as a housemaid. Sometimes, her stepmother didn’t give her food or a new dress. Cendrilla was stressed every day and was sad. One day the king of the city organized a dinner for his son. This dinner was for the prince’s new wife. Many princesses and beautiful girls came for this dinner. Cendrilla’s step-mother had two daughters who

went, but they didn’t bring Cendrilla. She had to stay home. Cendrilla didn’t want to stay home. She wanted to go to this dinner, but she didn’t have a new dress and new shoes. Something magical happened. Cendrilla changed into a beautiful princess and went to this dinner at the prince’s palace. All people at this dinner were surprised to see a wonderful princess.The prince danced with Cendrilla for a long time. She was magic, they were very happy to celebrate this moment, but at midnight Cendrilla would change back into her old dress. When she remembered, she went back home, but she forgot her shoe. The prince took it and decided to fnd Cendrilla and to take her for his wife.They found Cendrilla at her home and gave her back the shoe. After Cendrilla became the prince’s wife and the princess of the palace. It was so great and memorable.

Celebrations

Independence Day

Farah Bteibet

Jordan, Basic Level

My favorite holiday in Jordan is Independence Day on 25 March. Many people around Jordan celebrate in that holiday. Some people in Arabic countries celebrate in the day. People listen, dance, and watch the freworks in the night. Special food in the day is mansaf. Some people eat mansaf with the hand. Also, we put the fags and lights in all city. I like the holiday and day because many people feels proud about Jordan. Also I like the day because it is very fun and wonderful. I celebrated this holiday on 25 March. I celebrated with my family and friends. We went downtown and watched freworks. We also listened to Jordan song and dabke dance.

My Favorite Holiday

Jennifer Baez

Puerto Rico, Basic Level

My favorite holiday is Christmas. The United States and Latin America celebrate this holiday. It is on December 25th. The people put the Christmas trees and have a special dinner. Some people listen to music. The families visit others and they have gifts. In my country, we always eat rice, pork, pasteles, and salad. Sometimes for dessert we have fan, three milk, or sweet rice. I like this holiday because I spend time with my family. I was celebrated this holiday in the last year. I celebrated the last Christmas with my family. I put the Christmas tree, cooked, and listened to music. I visited my parents and spent time with them.

Diwali Festival

Sulochana Rijal

Nepal, Basic Level

Diwali festival is my favorite holiday. People usually celebrate this festival in Nepal and India. We celebrate it in October. Dates are not fx. People celebrate this festival with brothers and sisters. Sisters invite brothers. And sisters make diferent kind of food for their brothers. People also put tika on forehead. They wear mala. After that, they go to others home. They sing a song and dance. And the house owner gives them some money and food. It is so fun. I love this festival. The last time we celebrated that holiday was on October 22nd. I celebrated with my family members. We made diferent types of food like roti, khurma, fni, and julebi. We put tika on forehead. We also wore mala on our neck. We exchanged gifts from each other. We danced and sang. It was so fun.

Independence Day

Silsila Kohistani

Afghanistan, Basic Level

Independence Day is a national holiday in United States. People celebrate with freworks on July 4th. Americans people usually celebrate this holiday. We go to downtown park. People make food, but not special food. I like that holiday. I enjoy freworks. We have a lot of fun on this holiday. I celebrated this holiday last year. My husband and my son celebrated with me on that day. We enjoyed freworks. We had a lot of fun on this holiday. We made pizza, salad, and steak. I went to downtown park with my family.

Christmas Day

Ange Martial Any

Ivory Coast, Basic Level

Christmas Day is my favorite holiday. People of Catholic Church celebrate birth of Jesus Christ. We celebrate it each December 25th. People go to church and give gifts to their children. Everyone cooks chicken and eats together. I very like it because it is great fun, but it is also serious festival for religious people to go to church. We celebrated it the last year, December 25th, 2024. I celebrated with my grandmother, my parents, my sisters, and brothers. We sang and ate together. My parents gave to me a new phone as gift.

Thanksgiving

Yasmin Farhan

Syria, Level 1

A time when I learned a new tradition was when I celebrated Thanksgiving for the frst time. In my country, we don’t have this holiday, so it was something new for me. My friend invited me to her family’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. When I arrived, I saw a big table full of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Everyone was smiling and talking. Before we ate, each person said what they were thankful for. It was my frst time doing that, and I said I was thankful for my new friends and my life in the U.S. I felt a little shy at frst, but everyone was very kind and made me feel welcome. We ate together, talked, and laughed. I even brought a small dessert to share, and they really liked it!

In Almost American Girl, Robin also learns about new American traditions, like Halloween. She didn’t understand it at frst, just like me with Thanksgiving, but later she enjoyed it and felt more included. I felt the same way learning new traditions helped me feel part of the community and closer to people around me.

My Favorite Day

Sami Essaf

Morocco, Level 1

My favorite day is Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is not a normal day. First, Eid al-Fitr meaning the day when Ramadan fnish and the family meet. Before this day, we go to barbers for cut hair. Next, we take a shower in Haman (it is a place where we take a shower in Morocco culture) and we buy a new clothes. In morning of this day, we go to pray. Then, we go eat breakfast with my big family. We call all my family for say, “Eid Mubarak.” A family and neighbor give money for children. After that, I meet my friends and we stroll. Then, everyone comes back home. We eat special delicious food. Next day, I and my parents go visit my family in another city after fnish clean home. Finally, we have a lot of fun and beautiful memories. This day is important for me because we play a lot of activities. We eat special foods, and the most important they give money.

My Kids’ Birthday

Emine Sula

Albania, Level 1

My kids’ birthdays are my favorite days. Their birthdays are on July 7th and December 20th. These days are very special to me because they celebration the day my kids are born. Before the birthday, I buy many things. First we buy colorful balloons and big cake that look like a cartoon. After that we prepare the house with decorations.

In the morning, we sing the birthday song, and blow out the candles. Then they are so happy because the cake is with strawberry their favorite fruit. Next, we go out to eat dinner with all the family. Then in the evening we spent time together and enjoy celebration, but the house is so messy, and we clean the whole house together. Finally, the day fnished. I’m so happy I celebration my kids’ birthday every year. They grow up very fast.

My Favorite Day

Khalida Samim

Afghanistan, Level 1

My favorite day is Eid. It happens at the end of Ramadan every year. Eid is a very important day because we fnish one month of fasting. We celebrate with our family and friends. Before Eid, we prepare by making cookies, cakes, and diferent kinds of food. Next, on the morning of Eid, we wear new clothes and go to the Mosque. Then, in the afternoon we make diferent food and eat together with our family. After that, we visit our parents’ house in the evening. After Eid, we clean our house. Eid is very important to me because it brings our family together and makes us happy.

My Favorite Day - Eid

Mohammad Javid Jabarkhil

Afghanistan, Level 1

My favorite day is Eid. We have that day after Ramadan and we are fasting in Ramadan because it is part of our religion. The meaning of that day is happiness our God gave us. People cooks food and makes parties. This is my favorite day because we have parties and feel free to eat.

Eid has three days. First, in that weekend, we clean our house, put some lights, and make our house bright. When we wake up in the morning, we wear new clothes and do a special prayer. After that, we celebrate together with our family and other people. Next, in the afternoon, we usually prepare for parties, and some people go for vacation, but I would like to have a party. In the evening we makes our house bright and we have more parties. Finally, after three days, we clean house and do some rest. This day is important to us because this is our religion that God gave us.

God Fod

Cheeseburger

Amoin Laetitia Kof

Ivory Coast, Basic Level

My favorite food is the cheeseburger. Sometimes I cook it at home. I enjoy the combination of a juicy beef patty with melted cheese on a soft bun. I like to add toppings, like crisp lettuce, pickles and a little bit of ketchup. I like it because when I cook, it takes me a short time. For me, a cheeseburger is the perfect meal to have during a summer barbecue with friends and family.

Lychee Pork

Alinla Chen

China, Level 2

Ingredients:

*250g pork shoulder, sliced

*1 egg

*2 tbsp cornstarch

*2 tbsp soy sauce

*1 tsp salt

*1 tsp sugar

*Green onion, ginger, garlic slices

*3 tbsp sugar

*2 tbsp white vinegar

*1/2 cup of water

It will be easy for you to make traditional lychee pork if you follow these instructions. The frst step is marinating the pork with 1 tbsp soy sauce, salt, sugar and an egg for 15 minutes. Before you deep-fry the pork, you must coat the pork with cornstarch, and then you can deep-fry the pork in 340°F to 360°F oil. The oil must be half a pot so you can make your pork become golden. Next, drain the oil before we use it. After that, we need to make the sauce. Add 3 tbsp sugar over low heat until it becomes caramelized. Now add water, soy sauce and white vinegar and mix for 1-2 minutes. Then add onion, ginger and garlic the same as the last step. Finally, add the pork and make it gently coated until it becomes glossy. Enjoy the delicious food! To sum up, it’s a little hard, but if you follow these steps, you can make it easily and quickly.

Lychee pork is very famous in Fujian, China. If someone likes sweet and sour meat, they will love lychee pork. In my opinion, every Chinese person will like it and want to try the traditional lychee pork rather than the modern kind. And if anyone likes fried pork, I recommend they try lychee pork!

I chose this food as my recipe because I like it very much, and it’s very famous in my country. When I was 6 years old, I ate lychee pork every meal. Now, I have grown up and I still like it. When I eat it, it makes me remember my grandparents. I hope everyone in the world can try lychee pork!

Burritos

Diana Rosado Dominican Republic, Level 2

Ingredients:

· Tortillas

· Lettuce

· Cup of corn

· Cup of cut tomatoes

· A bowl of chicken already cooked

· Cheese

· Ranch sauce

· Salt

Follow these steps if you want to make healthy burritos and taste something diferent. First, put a tortilla on the table. Second, put all the ingredients near you to make it easier to pick them. Now, put the tortilla on a pan to toast it as you like. After that, you will start to put everything on the tortilla to make the burrito. Now, put all ingredients on the tortilla in this order: chicken, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and ranch sauce. The fnal step that you must do is roll the tortilla to make the burrito form.

Now, I want to talk about why I chose this recipe. I chose this recipe because it reminds me of a very important moment when I was young. When I was child, I had a special place that I always went to with my mom, and when I was there she always bought me a very big burrito with these ingredients. She never bought one for herself, but when she bought mine, she always ate from mine. In short, I chose this recipe because it reminds me of happy moments with my mom.

I think that people who want a delicious and quick lunch can make this recipe. Everybody makes it in many ways. However, this recipe is a very good choice if you want healthy and delicious food.

Cheesecake

Kateryna

Tanasesku Ukraine, Level 2

Ingredients for 8” size:

- Graham Crackers, crumbled 250g

- Butter 100g

- Cream cheese 600g

- 3 eggs

- Powdered sugar 120g

- Whipped cream 200g

- Vanilla extract

Follow these steps if you want a creamy and balanced cheesecake. First, take out all the ingredients from the fridge one hour before cooking, so they should be room temperature. Next, prepare a baking pot. Put parchment paper on the bottom and heat the oven to 160C (320F). Second, mix graham crackers crumbled with soft butter. Put it on the bottom of the baking pot and push it with a spoon. After, put a pot in the fridge for 20 minutes. Third, mix the cream cheese with eggs, but add them one by one. Then add powdered sugar. For a better taste, it’s good to add some vanilla extract. Now add whipped cream, but mix it carefully and slowly together. After that, take out the baking pot from the fridge and put the cream cheese mix on the graham crumble. Now put it in the oven. Underneath the cheesecake, on the bottom of the oven, put a pot with hot water. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. When the baking time is over, turn of the oven, and leave the cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour. Then put it in the fridge for at least two hours, and better for a whole night. Finally, when the cheesecake is ready to serve, you can put some jam or caramel on top. Enjoy your creamy cheesecake with a cup of tea or cofee.

I chose this recipe because it’s easy to make, and it doesn’t need so much time to prepare it like a cake does. My kids love it, and I usually make this cheesecake for them. It’s a light and not too sweet dessert.

This recipe is simple and classic. The texture is smooth, rich and creamy. It’s a very popular dessert, and everyone compliments me on how delicious it is. To sum up, cheesecake is delicious, easy to make and always a hit.

Pumpkin Cream Soup

Khrystyna Moroz Ukraine, Level 2

Ingredients:

· 1 medium pumpkin

· 1 small onion

· 4 potatoes

· 1tsp salt

· 1tsp of Ukrainian 10 vegetables seasoning

· ½ cup cream

· water

· pepper

There are a few easy steps for how to make autumn pumpkin soup. The frst step is to put a pot with water on the stove. While you boil water, prepare the vegetables. Then peel and chop the vegetables in small pieces, and put them in a pan with water. Also, add salt and pepper. After that, cook it for a round 30 minutes, until tender. Next, pour a little water into the soup and blend it. Finally, add the cream and bring it to a boil.

I chose this pumpkin cream soup recipe because it is simple and healthy. First, it uses only a few ingredients, so it is easy to prepare even when I do not have much time. Second, this soup is warm and comforting, which makes it perfect for cold autumn days. Finally, I chose it because it reminds me of my family and the meals we cooked together in Ukraine. This recipe is important to me because it feels like home.

Many people would enjoy this recipe because it is creamy, tasty, and full of vegetables. Children might like it because the texture is smooth and easy to eat. Adults who prefer healthy meals will enjoy it too, since the soup is made with fresh vegetables. Overall, this soup is great for anyone who wants a warm, simple, and delicious homemade meal.

Traditional Ukrainian Varenyky with Cheese and Potato

Olena Bakaliuk

Ukraine, Level 2

Ingredients:

1 cup of boiled water

3 cups of four

1 egg

1 spoon of sunfower oil

1 tsp. of salt

2 potatoes

200g of farmer’s cheese

A little butter

Sour cream

To make Ukrainian varenyky, you need to follow several simple steps. First, take several potatoes and put them in the pan, add water, and stand it on the stove for cooking. While the potatoes are boiling, prepare one cup of boiled water. Second, start to prepare the dough. To prepare a soft dough, you had better take a cup of boiled water. Then add about 3 cups of four to water, 1 egg, a spoon of sunfower oil, and 1 tsp. of salt. Mix it in the mixer or do it with your hand. For me, making dough in the mixer is faster and better. When the mixer is making dough, you can make a flling, because the potato must be ready. Next, mash the potatoes, and add salt, a little butter and farmer’s cheese and mix it together. After that, take your dough from the mixer. It must be warm and soft. Do not forget to wash the mixer because it will be hard to wash it later. Now roll a part of dough, but leave another part to rest and cover it with a kitchen towel. Now roll the dough into parts and use a glass to cut small circles. After that, put one teaspoon of the potato and cheese flling in the center of each circle. Next, carefully fold the dough in half and press the edges together with your fngers so the varenyky will not open while boiling. When all the dumplings are ready, boil water in a big pot and gently put them inside. Cook them for about fve minutes, until they foat to the top. Finally, take them out with a spoon and serve them warm.

New Beginnings

My First Day

Nazar Lutchanko

Ukraine, Level 1

I remember my frst day in an American high school. I was 15 years old and my family had come to America two days before. I was very worried and nervous that day. I knew I would have a lot of new experiences with teachers and friends. On my frst day of college, I was worried too because I had never been to college before. I was in school in Ukraine but I never went to college. I didn’t know where I was supposed to go. It was not very diferent for me because I was in school before. But I think if you didn’t go to an American high school, it will be hard for you.

Living Alone at a Young Age in Three Diferent Countries

Valentyn Hromiak

Ukraine, Level 3

Living alone in a diferent country is a serious challenge for many young people. It requires responsibility, independence, and the ability to adapt to new places. I lived in three diferent countries almost alone. Each country presented some challenges and opportunities that pushed me to adapt and solve problems. I gained some experiences and rules from it. These experiences played a key role in shaping my character and behavior.

My frst experience of living alone was in Ukraine. I was 17 at that moment. I had to move to a big city from my small town to study at university. I lived in a student dormitory for almost a year. For the frst week, it was so exciting and scary to meet new people, make friends, prepare food and live alone. There are some advantages and disadvantages of living alone at a young age. So, I was forced to become independent early. I learned to manage my daily tasks, spend time, and spend money.

Also, it inspired and motivated me to get an online job and work for myself. Then, I had a business selling clothes, that helps me nowadays to fnd some outfts online and follow some new fashions. So, this experience developed my sense of responsibility and self-discipline. As a disadvantage, sometimes I felt lonely and missed having someone to talk to. Next, my parents and all my family were far away from me and I rarely saw them. I could come to them every week, but I didn’t because of some reasons, such as spending time with my girlfriend or friends from this city.

The second my new experience was when I was almost 18, I decided to move to Poland because of the war. I have cousins there, so I wasn’t alone. But it was a hard time for me, and I always had misunderstandings with them. As for me, I don’t know Polish and I couldn’t speak with and understand people around. Unfortunately, I met a lot of people who even don’t know English, so it was so hard with new language and society. For my time being in Poland, I was waiting for documents to United States. I started to do the United Program for Ukrainians. But I’m not lucky with documents, and this program ended when I turned 18. Then, I prepared everything for my visa and waited almost 4 months for it. This period felt so long, I tried to fnd a job, but I couldn’t because of language. Also, I tried to focus on me and continued doing sports as in Ukraine. This period has ended and I have some experience from it. I learned the rule “To not believe that someone wants to help you” because of misunderstandings with my relatives there. As for my last experience, I’m currently in United States with my sister and brother-in-law. I’m happy to be here because they really help me and I feel their love and attention to me. When I came here in December 2024, I helped them to do the renovation of the house we are living in now. Also, I more focused on myself and resumed going to the gym and building my body. After few months of being in United States, I applied for studying in college. Afterwards, I bought a new car and found some entertainment and ways to make money. Recently, my parents came to visit us from Ukraine. They had been here for 2 weeks, and it was the best feelings and time in the last 2 years. After that time, I understood that I need their support and love in person, not from a distance. So, I hope I will visit Ukraine this summer. And I learned the new rule for me “Don’t give up if something is going bad or hard, I should keep doing and achieving my goal”.

In conclusion, living almost alone for a couple years in different countries and places taught me something important about responsibility, adaptation, and self-improvement. It also taught me some rules which will help me in the future. However, I miss my parents, relatives, and friends, but I know I will visit them all this summer. Also, my parents say that I have more than enough experience for my age, but I think living alone is fun, interesting, and instructive. In the end, I understood that I should value all the time with my closest people, believe in myself, and follow my goals.

Immigration in My Life

Mariia Kurysh

Ukraine, Level 3

* Third Prize Winner

Immigration is a complex and usually unpredictable process in people’s lives. It has both advantages and disadvantages. Immigration is not only about difculties, but also about growth and new beginnings. My immigration story includes many events in two diferent countries that show what my life was like before immigration, how I made these big decisions, how I felt and adapted, what my life is like now, and what advice I can give from my experience.

My ideal life, flled with my favorite work, my relatives, and friends, lasted until 2022. On February 24, the war started in my country, Ukraine. We stopped working, the children stopped going to school, and my husband thought about joining the army. Everyone was living in fear and did not know whether it would end in a few days or last for a very long time.

My husband decided that I should take the children and go to live with relatives in Romania. This decision was very difcult for me. I was a little angry and in shock. Our children did not understand what was happening or why their father could not go with us. I thought about it for a few hours and agreed because I was afraid for my children.

One advantage was that I would see a new country, because I had never traveled abroad before. However, the disadvantage was that I would be without my husband, alone with my children, who were 4 and 9 years old. On the second day of the war, I stood with my kids in long lines of people before going abroad. It was the longest day of my life, I cried but didn’t show that because I wanted to look strong for my children. I didn’t know the Romanian language, but I was met by a family I had only seen in photos. It was scary and at the same time, I was grateful for them. We spoke with an English translator, but it didn’t work perfectly. The family we stayed with was very kind. We had everything we needed, but every day we saw bad news about Ukraine, and it was frightening.

I told my sisters how comfortable I felt and invited them for safety. My sisters and their children also came to me. Unfortunately, they couldn’t live with me, so they stayed with this family’s neighbors. One of my sisters slept in a garage room with her baby, and another stayed with a family that had a big dog, and their baby was scared. Later, we were given an old apartment to live in together. I am the oldest sister in our family and supported them emotionally. This adaptation period was hard because it felt like a cold spring in my heart. My sisters were nervous and wanted to go home every day. The family who helped us suggested that we stay longer than 2 months in their country, but emotionally we couldn’t, and decided to return home. We were so happy to be home with our husbands, parents and native language. We felt free and excited.

I lived in our village for three months, and sometimes military aircraft few low over our house. There was no end to the war.

My immigration story didn’t end there, because we had a new chance to move to America. My husband’s relatives fled documents for the “Uniting for Ukraine” program, and my husband, daughters and I would try life in a new country. My parents didn’t want us to go so far. I asked myself, “Do I want this?” I thought it would only be for two years, but it was not.

In America, everything was diferent from Romania. My husband’s relatives helped us get new documents, rent an apartment, buy a car, and register the children for school and kindergarten. My husband and I easily found jobs with Ukrainians, and every week we attended English courses. Our adaptation in this country was easier than going to Romania, and interesting. We didn’t feel like strangers, we made new friends, succeeded in many things, and didn’t regret coming here.

So, what advice would I give other immigrants? First, be positive and fnd happiness everywhere. Second, move to another country but with your whole family (if you can). Third, remember that we can always change our situation. There are always advantages and disadvantages in life. I try to focus only on advantages and appreciate them.

Four years have passed, and now I can say that my children don’t want to change their lifestyle or school, my husband loves his job, we were able to buy a house and sometimes organize vacations, I study English in college, and our family is expecting a baby. Our immigration has changed our lives for the better.

The Journey to a Better Future

Ermira Rexhaj Albania, Level 3

Moving to a diferent country is a life changing experience that afects many parts of a person’s life. People who move often face new challenges, new responsibilities, and emotional changes as they adapt to a diferent culture and environment. People often move to a new country because of important personal reasons and the hope for a better future. My own experience was similar. Moving to the United States changed many parts of my life and forced me to grow in ways I did not expect. My decision to move to Cleveland was infuenced by three main reasons: the desire for personal growth, love, and the hope of building a better future for my family.

First, one important reason I moved to Cleveland was to build a better future. Moving to a new country helped me grow as a person. This experience taught me how to be more independent and responsible. I had to adapt to a new culture, a new language, and a diferent way of life. These challenges helped me become stronger and more confdent about my future. Growing up in a big family made me mature faster than I expected, but leaving my parents pushed me even more. I become emotionally

stronger, more patient, and more focused on building a better life. This personal growth would not happen without such a big change.

Second, love played an important role in my decision to move. My fancé lives here, and I wanted to build a life with him; because I loved living with him, I decided to move as well. When we had our baby, my priorities changed completely. I stopped thinking only about myself and started thinking more about our future as a family. Being together allowed us to build a life as a family, support each other and grow as a couple and this made the move feel worth it. I also enjoy living here more because I feel supported and connected to the person I love. Love became a strong reason for starting over in a new place.

Finally, family and sacrifce are an important part of this experience. Even though living here has helped me grow and be with the man I love, I deeply miss my family. They gave me support, love and comfort, and being away from them is not easy. I especially miss seeing them with my baby. This distance is the hardest part of my decision, but it is also a sacrifce I made for a better future.

In conclusion, my decision to move to Cleveland was infuenced by several important reasons. Love, the desire to build a better future for my child, and the support of my family all played a major role in this decision. Although leaving my home country and my family was very difcult, I believe this move will help me create a better life for my child and my future family. Even though I miss the place and the people I came from, I know that moving here was the right choice for my life.

Fifteen Years of

Change

Nadiia Sniatovska Ukraine, Level 3

Life never stays the same. I never imagined how much my life would change, and how it would change me as a person. In the last ffteen years my life has changed many times: from studying in college to my frst job, life in Poland, war in my country, and fnally I’m here, in the US. Each of these steps shaped me in diferent ways and helped me become the person I am today.

The frst change in my life was my time in college, which was the funniest part of my life. I was ffteen years old when I started studying at college. My mom helped me with all the documents and bought supplies for classes. After that, I took care of all my problems and needs by myself. College was an hour from my home, so I used to live in a dorm. Every weekend I went home and spent time with my family. Living in a dorm was exciting because I spent a lot of time talking, speaking, and laughing with my friends there. My classmates became like a family to me. We supported and helped each other. For me, college was not only a place to get an education, but also to learn how to be independent and responsible.

The next step was my frst job at the age of 18, and it was a big challenge for me. I worked as a manager in a big agriculture company with more than ffty coworkers. The frst month was the worst month of my life. I was the youngest worker at the company, and it took me a while to get it. I learned there how to be strong. No one wanted to listen to me or follow my rules. Everyone was nice to me, but when something bad happened – of course it was my fault, even if our gas station was out of gas by chance. Very often I felt sad because I couldn’t say anything to them. After a while, I started looking for a new job, and one of my friends invited me to a Poland. I made a very quick decision and quit my job. I worked there for three years, and I am very thankful for that experience.

I felt like I needed a big change, something that would make me happier. I moved to Poland, and it helped me to restart my life. I met a lot of new people, and with some of them I still keep in touch with. Polish language is very similar to Ukrainian, so it wasn’t too hard for me to understand. My new job made me happier because I worked only with girls that were almost the same age as me. We became good friends, and we started to travel together. Once, I came to Ukraine to my friend’s wedding and I met a man. He was very intelligent and handsome, and I fell in love with him, but I had to go back to Poland. The two month long-distance relationship was difcult, and I decided to go back home. It was a good experience, but after two years I realized that I had to stay home.

My next chapter started in my city Ternopil, and I felt like I was born again. When I came back from Poland, I spent three months doing nothing. I met with my friends and family. Most of the time I tried to fnd what I wanted to do. I applied for a job, and after the frst interview I got the job. It was ofce work in a big cosmetics store. I loved it. It was something new, and very fun for me. I ordered goods and divided them into our stores. However, life is complicated and brings us a lot of bad things. One morning I woke up and turned on TV, and I was shocked because the war was coming to my country. The next six months were terrible, painful, and they changed me a lot. It was difcult to talk with other people because we were scared. The most common phrase that people used was not “hello,” or “good morning,” but only “how are you?” I became more serious, and more grateful for every peaceful day.

Finally, I moved to the USA, and that completely changed the way I see the world. When the war happened, no one knew what to do. Some people immediately went to Europe, others decided to stay at home. A lot of men became a soldier. One day my cousin, who lives in the US, called me and asked if I wanted to move to him. Of course, I said yes! I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it would be better than living in my country. I knew basic English, but I didn’t speak, so I didn’t have a lot of choices where to work. I started working as a housekeeper in a hotel, and I felt scared about the language. After a month my fear of talking was gone, and I began to feel more confdent in myself. I never drove car in Ukraine, but here I learned it. I learned how to make an appointment, where to fnd a good car repair station, how the bank system works here, and how to fnd an apartment to live in. All these challenges helped me become more independent.

In conclusion, during the last ffteen years my life has changed in many unexpected ways. From college life and my frst job to moving to Poland, returning home, experiencing war, and fnally coming to the United States, every stage taught me important lessons. Each experience made me stronger, more independent, and more confdent. Even though life brought many challenges, it also gave me new opportunities. I am proud of how far I have come, and I am ready for the next chapter of my life.

Immigration: My Personal Experience

Nataliia Prorokova Ukraine, Level 3

Immigration is a big change in life. Many people move to another country to be safe or have a better future. My immigration story is very personal. It started in Ukraine during the time of the Soviet Union and continued many years later when I moved to the United States as a mother. My family had a chance to leave when I was a child, but we stayed. Years later, because of war, I had to leave my home with my children. Immigration was hard and emotional, but it changed me and made me stronger. When I was a child, my parents lived under the Soviet government. The communist authorities persecuted them because of their Baptist religious beliefs. Life was not safe, and we were always afraid. After the Soviet Union collapsed, our family could have moved to the United States because we were ofered political asylum in the United States. I was only fve years old, and I remember dreaming about America. And I think it would be a safe and happy place. But my mother decided we should stay in Ukraine. It was a very hard choice.

Coincidentally, many years later my life changed again. I became a mother, and then war came to Ukraine. Staying at home was too dangerous. I felt scared, sad, and confused. I did not want to leave my home, family, and friends. But I had to think about my three children. Their safety was more important than my feelings. At that moment, I understood my mother better. Leaving home is one of the hardest decisions a person can make, but sometimes it is necessary.

Moving to the United States was not easy for me. English was difcult. Even simple conversations made me nervous. Sometimes I did not understand people and sometimes they did not understand me. I felt lonely because my family and friends were far away. Small daily things like flling out papers or going to school meetings were stressful. I often felt tired and worried. It was a hard time in my life.

But immigration also changed me in a good way. Little by little I became stronger. My English got better. I learned to do many things by myself like making my own appointments and many other things. I became more independent. I met new people and slowly felt more comfortable here. Most importantly, my children have more opportunities now. Immigration was painful but it helped me grow. It made me stronger and braver than before.

My Immigration Journey to the USA

Tetiana Fryz

Ukraine,

Level 3

Since my childhood I have dreamed of going to the USA. I watched the American drama series Beverly Hills, 90210 and said to my parents that one day I was going to go there. But when I grew up, I forgot about my dream. However, I think it still lived in my heart.

Later I met my husband. He had been living here for ten years, and I understood that one day I would have to decide to stay in Ukraine or go to the USA. I thought the process with documents would take a lot of time, so I would have enough time to improve my English, learn something new, and spend enough time with my parents and friends. But it did not happen that way, because war came to my country. My immigration to the USA started earlier than I expected. It was not easy. My childhood dream became a difcult and serious experience that I was not ready for, but it helped me grow. This journey changed my plans, my priorities, and even my idea of what home means.

February 24th, 2022, was the day when everything changed. War came into our homes and brought hurt, fear, and the feeling of not understanding how to continue living. At that moment I realized how happy I was before. Two days before the war started, my husband went back to the United States, and I was happy that he was in a safe place. My sister and I went to our friends in Poland and then to France. But I did not feel right there. It was an incredibly beautiful and safe place, people around me were truly kind, but I did not feel calm or at home. So together with my husband we decided to try to get a visa for me and go to the United States. It took a little time, but I got the visa. I was so happy that in one week I would see him. But thoughts about what was happening in Ukraine did not leave my mind. So, there were mixed feelings of happiness and hurt.

Everything happened very quickly after I got my visa. I went to Ukraine to see my parents and take some things important for me. I did not prepare for that journey the way I had dreamed of in my childhood because I had only a couple of days for that. I just spent a little time with my parents and my friends. It was very emotional and stressful. I felt confused, sometimes I thought about staying in Ukraine, but at the same time I knew that this decision was necessary for my future. Leaving my country was one of the hardest moments in my life, especially when I realized that things would never be the same again.

When my airplane arrived in the United States, I understood that a new chapter in my life had started. I did not know how many challenges and complex decisions were waiting for me. I did not know anyone in this city, only my husband, so the frst challenge for me was to fnd new friends. Another tricky thing was that I could not drive a car and I had never tried to do that before. But I did it, and now I am so proud of myself. A lot of things in my new life were completely diferent from what I was used

to. Sometimes I felt lonely because I could not express my thoughts in English and I did not understand what people were saying around me. Because of that I decided to take ESL classes. Step-by-step it helped me feel more confdent in conversations with people. I also started meeting more people and slowly building a new life.

Today, when I look back at my immigration journey, I understand how much it has changed me. It was not the way I imagined when I was a child watching American TV shows. My dream came true in a very unexpected and difcult way. This experience taught me to be stronger, more patient, and more open to new challenges. Step-bystep I started to build a new life in a new country, learn the language, and meet new people. The support of my husband helped me feel more confdent and not give up when everything felt difcult. Even though this journey was difcult and unexpected, it helped me grow and build a new life in a new country. People often ask me what my favorite place is, and I always answer the same question: my favorite place is my home.

My Migration History

Jennifer Cespedes Minaya Dominican Republic, Level 3

I came to the United States two years ago with my family. It was a hard decision to leave our lives in the Dominican Republic, but we believed it would be a good sacrifce to have a better future. This is the story of how I came to the United States and how difcult life can be for immigrants.

I was raised in the Dominican Republic all my life until I was 17 years old, and I had a happy and normal life there. I received most of my education in my country, had many good friends, and spent time with my family every weekend. One day, my family and I received news about a process we had started 14 years ago to get our permanent residency. It was fnally approved! It was time to say goodbye to everything we knew and move toward the “American Dream”.

The frst year in the US was very difcult. It was the beginning of a new life for my family and me. We started learning the language, and the younger members of my family began school. In my case, fnding new friends in the US was very hard for two reasons. First, at that time I didn’t know anything about the English language. Second, people in the US have a diferent perspective on life. They are really focused on their own responsibilities. The problem is not that they focus on their lives, but that it makes it harder to build connections with them, and sometimes they are not very polite. After one year, the US began to feel a little like home. That year felt like fve years because so many things happened during our assimilation. Now, everything is going well for us. All members of my family are self-sufcient, and I am doing well academically and have a close group of friends whom I love dearly. Although it wasn’t easy, I feel grateful to God and destiny for everything. I know this is not the end; it is just the beginning of many more stories. There is a possibility that I may move to another state for family reasons. Moving to another state is not the same as emigrating

to a diferent country, but it is still difcult when you already have a life in one place. I don’t know what will happen, but I am ready for whatever comes.

In conclusion, immigrating to another country has both advantages and disadvantages. People can fnd better opportunities and improve their lives, but starting over is not easy. Sometimes unexpected things happen, but we must keep going. We must not forget where we come from or why we work so hard, because this is real life, and this is America.

Becoming Me

Light I Carry Inside

Judith Wilondja

Tanzania, Level 2

*First Prize Winner

I don’t always say much, but I feel things deeply. I move quiet, but my heart stays loud. I’ve been through things that could’ve made me cold, but somehow I still choose softness. I let myself hope, I let myself dream, and even when life gets heavy, I hold on to the light I carry inside. Because no matter what happens, I know I’m meant to shine in my own way.

Truth I Tried to Hide

Rudrakumar Patel

India, Level 2

When I cried, I thought of moments I could not rewind. Memories stayed behind, Holding pieces of a time I wished I could rewind. When I was a child, I could not lie — I only cried, Trying to understand the world That kept moving behind. Now I lie, and now I cry, Hiding feelings I cannot leave behind, Wishing life would slow down So I could go back and rewind. But no matter how I hide or lie, The truth still waits behind, Reminding me of every time I cried and wished to rewind.

Why Is Writing So Important To Me?

Jana Airout

Syria, Level 3

Have you ever thought about the way you express yourself? Your thoughts, your emotions, or even your opinions? I believe that each one of us has a unique way to refect the inner voice. For example, artists reveal their identity through art, colors, and symbols. Athletes invest in their bodies as exercising is their comfort zone. And authors fnd their peace in silence with just a sheet of paper, a pen, and a mind full of questions. Writing was the space where I felt comfortable and seen, and where I could practice my humanity to the fullest. It was never about using words, but about freeing the imagination from all restrictions and letting the mind speak its language. I can’t remember the exact moment I started, but I know it was in my early teens… maybe around 12 or 13. I used to journal whenever I experienced new or difcult emotions. Even at that young age, I was surprised by how naturally I could express myself in a poetic way. It felt as if I had discovered a whole diferent world that no one else could see!

A few years later, I developed a new interest: reading, which became an important part of how I started writing. I didn’t read much in high school, but when I came to the U.S. as a tourist I decided to stay and continue my studies. As a result, I spent a lot of time reading while waiting for my visa. It was the most exciting option for me, because it simply fed my curiosity and enriched my ability to write.

At this point, I would like to mention the person who made me fall in love with literature - Naguib Mahfouz, the Egyptian writer known as the frst Arabic author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His books inspired me to think more deeply and write more meaningfully. Over time, I learned how to turn my talent into an actual skill, especially when my beginner style was no longer satisfying.

During my writing journey, I was curious to try diferent types of writing. As I mentioned before, everything started with simple journaling. However, I wanted to grow, so I started reading, searching, and watching more. I have always been interested in psychology, how people interact, the roots of human behavior, thoughts, and emotions, and how all of these afect each other. In simple words, I enjoy analyzing human beings.

Because of that, my writing has a philosophical, poetic, and humanistic touch as I tend to use symbols and metaphors often, so I was naturally drawn to try types of writing that match my interest in philosophy, poetry, and psychological issues. One style I enjoy doing is Suf-infuenced writing. It is a spiritual writing that expresses deep love for God and the desire towards purity and truth. The closest example would be writing a romantic letter or poem to someone you love. It is almost the same, except that in Suf writing, the beloved is not a person, but God.

Another style of writing I have tried is Surrealist writing, which is also considered a form of art. It is hard to describe Surrealism in just a few words, but briefy, it feels like giving your unconscious mind the freedom to speak for a few minutes. The results may feel strange, unrealistic, and uncomfortable at frst, because I might write things that go against my senses or beliefs. Still, it was really interesting to try something new. I believe that writing has a fundamental impact on me. It is my voice when I choose silence, and my release when I decide to move all questions from my mind to paper. Writing has never been a luxury for me, but a need.

Writing helps me feel less overwhelmed, more valuable, and even more humble. It also allows me to face reality with the power of words rather than the loudness of voice. That is something I learned from a great author like Mahfouz, who was never afraid to question or criticize.

Through writing, I discover my perspectives, my opinions, and the way I see life. It gives me a more neutral vision of things, especially when I try to analyze human behaviors. For example, when I am writing fction and creating characters, I have to imagine their background, emotions, and struggles. Sometimes I fnd myself empathizing with a concept that I couldn’t accept before. In other words, I’m a more tolerant and open-minded person when I read and write. In addition, writing

improves my critical thinking. Organizing my ideas into visible words creates logical connections between them. I always imagine my mind as a puzzle, and writing is the key that helps me put its pieces together.

This hobby began as a simple seed of talent, but I decided to work on it until it became a skill. Although it was a way to release my emotions, I later discovered myself through it.

How Traveling Changed My Life

Emile Krivelyte

Lithuania, Level 3

While traveling, I learned many new things about the world, such as diferent cultures, traditions, foods, and ways people live. I gained these experiences through traveling with my parents, my basketball tournaments, the English study program I attended in the U.K., my summers in the Work and Travel program, and fnally my travels in South America.

From a very young age, I had the chance to travel with my parents. Every year, they tried to plan a trip to a new country. We traveled to spend time together and see the world. I have been lucky to visit many places with my family, including the United States, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Montenegro, Iceland, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. These early travels made me curious and open-minded.

One of my most memorable trips was my frst time visiting the United States. I met my grandmother, who lived in the United States, and my uncle and his wife came from Canada. We all met in Los Angeles and traveled along the West Coast for two weeks. I will always keep those memories with me.

Another important part of my life was basketball. I played professionally for several years with my city team and the Lithuanian national team. I traveled to tournaments in countries like Poland, Latvia, France, and Germany. Basketball taught me discipline, teamwork, and the chance to meet people from around the world.

I had an opportunity to attend a basketball tournament in Nice, France, where I and my teammates stayed with host families. I stayed with a family whose children also played basketball. They took me to the games, supported me during matches, and spent time with me outside of the tournament.

The next part of my travels was a three-week English study program in Southampton, U.K. I traveled with a few Lithuanian girls and stayed with a host family. It was my frst time using English every day. Our classes were fun, focused on projects, cultural presentations, and opportunities to meet students from other countries and share our cultures with each other. In the afternoons, we had a chance to explore the city of Southampton and spend time with other students. We also visited further cities like London on weekends. This experience helped me improve my English, meet students from all over the world, and live independently for the frst time.

The next part of my story is the Work and Travel program. Every summer from May to September, I worked at Cedar Point in Sandusky as a server and bartender, from 2022 to 2024. I enjoyed meeting students from all over the world and learning how to work with people from diferent cultures, following U.S. work policies, communicating with managers, and handling responsibilities. We all lived together in shared housing, which made it easy to make friends, and I’m still in contact with many of them.

The job could be hard with 12-hour shifts, but I also earned good money. During free time, I explored cities around Ohio like Columbus and Cincinnati, and even went further to Niagara Falls, New York, Chicago, and Miami. This experience helped me become more responsible, independent, improve my English, and build connections with people from all over the world.

Finally, I want to share my trip to Ecuador and Colombia in the autumn of 2023, after the Work and Travel program. I spent one month in Ecuador and two weeks in Colombia, traveling with friends I had met during Work and Travel who were from Ecuador and Colombia. This trip was diferent from being a tourist because my friends showed me their everyday life, favorite places, and introduced me to their families. Traveling to another continent pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me more confdent.

I am very grateful for these opportunities. They made me more independent, confdent, and open to new experiences, and inspired me to continue my journey and study in the United States.

From Childhood to Adulthood: How I’ve Changed

Krish Patel India, Level 3

How people defne the changes in their life has changed over the years. It is mainly due to the development of technology and changes in work ethics. Similarly, those changes have signifcantly afected my life in both positive and negative ways. The ensuing paragraphs discuss the physical and mental changes that took place in my life over three diferent periods: childhood, teenage phase, and adulthood.

To commence with, early physical changes took place in my personality during my childhood. As a four-year-old-kid, I was lean and thin, but as soon as I was about to turn seven, I began to eat healthy food. It eventually helped me to gain more weight, and as a result, my cheeks got big and soft. Apart from this, I used to enjoy my life spending hours playing outdoor games with my friends. Also, I focused less on my studies and liked to do more creative work. Moreover, I used to sleep for 10 hours in a day, which eventually helped me to grow faster and become stronger than the other kids of my age. Besides this, I was good at communication, so I was able to make new friends easily. Also, I was very expressive and had less responsibilities on my shoulders. However, having such good skills at an early age didn’t mean that my opinion would

be taken into consideration for any important decisions related to my life or family. For instance, when my parents were planning to buy a new car, I suggested they buy a SUV, but they decided to buy a sedan. Thus, this phase was benefcial with regards to my physical development, character development and mental-state.

Furthermore, during the teenage phase of my wonderful life, major physical transformation took place along with crucial mental changes. Due to the release of growth hormones, my height increased by 1.5 feet. Also, I gained more weight and my voice changed slightly due to my Adam’s Apple. This phase played a pivotal role in my life as I started to take care of my belongings and got more responsibilities. Additionally, the creative kid inside me faced more academic pressure. The stress regarding studies increased drastically, which resulted in peer pressure. Thus, I started to think about my future studies, physical and mental health and responsibilities. Even though I maintained a balanced diet, the negative consequences of secretion of hormones somehow afected my speaking skills and my behavior. As a result, I got more aggressive and used to get frustrated easily. To exemplify, when I was in 8th grade, my friends used to steal my lunchbox for fun, and then fnish my food without giving me a single piece. I used to shout at them for doing so, and I once hit my friend on his back for doing so. This phase fnally pushed me slightly towards the world of academics and helped me to become a bolder version of myself.

In addition, the adulthood phase of my life has had more positive outcomes with regards to the physical changes. First, this phase began with a change in my voice. My voice started to sound deeper and stronger, as compared to my voice when I was a kid. Also, the growth hormones played a vital role as my height increased and thick hair began to grow on my face. Moreover, the academic pressure increased, and I started to organize my plans for the future. Due to the academic pressure, my schedule got hectic and I barely managed to play with my friends. This phase is highly benefcial as I started to learn about fnancial management and security. To cite an example, I attended a conference on Financial Safety with my friends. This event helped me to learn more about that topic. In short, this phase has been really diferent from the frst two phases. Starting with the physical changes followed by the academic stress, it has been a tedious task to deal with it.

In a nutshell, from being a skinny child during my childhood to becoming a healthy and tall guy in the adulthood phase, it has been a wonderful journey. But, it has been more difcult to deal with the pressure related to studies and my future. However, maintaining a healthy diet has brought positive changes in my personality. I am optimistic that I will be able to tackle any problem in my life and deal with it easily.