Finding new life in the U.S.

Many students tell their story and experiences of the beginning of a new life

By Vanessa Cerro and Waliha Gani
International Editors

One cramped apartment, two rooms, and six people. That is the life of junior Luis Pac who has been living in the U.S. as a resident for almost six months. Pac decided to come to the United States for a better life.
"It's really hard to be an immigrant because one wants to have opportunities, and in our countries we don't have that. We come over here and try to get a better life," said Pac.

The United States has been overwhelmed with the major immigration issue that has been occurring over the past few years.

Many students believe that more harm than good done to the nation than good with immigrants coming into the states.

"They're not paying taxes, and they get free health care," said junior Lane Craggs. Even Pac who migrated from El Salvador agrees.

"We practically don't adapt to their culture and that's why they say that we're not associated with them. From not learning English to being in a country that's not ours," said Pac.

Another reason why people from around the world pack their belongings and more to a foreign country, is for education.

"I think the main reason for my brother and I to move to American was to get an education," said junior Cam Nguyen who emigrated from Vietnam seven years ago.

Nguyen began her life in Vietnam with her parents and siblings. Nguyen's parents decided that they needed something more to make the best out of their children's lives as well as their own.

"We came to U.S. to unite with our family. It's corrupted and its really bad in Vietnam," said Nguyen.

To some students who immigrated, the feelings of insecurity, and homesickness began to haunt them after being away from their homeland.

"I wanted to go back at first, I have all my friends back in El Salvador, but it's less of me missing them over here because I have the support here and some friends, but more because my family is altogether. Over there I felt lonely, I would say, "it doesn't matter, I want to go through land," said Pac. Land meaning that he'll go through Mexico to get to the United States.

For senior Julio Salvatera who is from Bolivia, it became more of an insecurity problem when he got to the United States.

"At first when you get here, you feel insecure, you feel that it was a good option to join a gang because you'll be respected and no one will mess with you, but than I got thinking and I thought, 'the world doesn't end here and the world end there if I get into this,' said Salvatera. "I was really close (to joining a gang) but I decided not to, I thought of my parents and how much they would suffer, and the pain that I would cause myself," he said.

For Pac, stepping onto U.S. soil was one step closer to a better lifestyle, economically. "I wasn't going to go to school, I was going to work to pay for the rent because I sleep with one brother and my mother sleeps with my other sibling," said Pac. "That's why my mom said I should study to get a better job because they say if you don't speak English than you can't get a good job. But since we have papers and I have the opportunity to go to school I should, and that's why I'm studying now."

The challenge for Salvatera is to try and keep the money coming, while attending school full time and trying to graduate.

"I work part time cleaning right now," said Salvatera. "But I want to achieve into becoming a doctor one day."

Some Students speak out that Hispanics are only a disturbance in country, and that they do not have a positive impact on our society. "In school for example a majority of fights between gangs are mostly immigrants," said junior Allysa Gray. There are always immigrant strikes in D.C and they can cause riots."

But Salvatera does not agree that Hispanics do not have a positive impact on society. "What gringo (Caucasian) would want to pick up trash or clean bathrooms?" said Salvatera. "We immigrants do make the difference, in the aspect of working, and how we work. Because if you compare the American people, they don't like to do what we do, what American would like to do construction? There is nothing else for us to work in, because the government doesn't permit it. If its not immigration, it's the police keeping us from there. American people like to be well seated, but we like to show that we are hard working people," Salvatera said.

"In my country there are illegal people who go there to work, so we can't say anything because their country is poor and they go looking for jobs at our place, said junior Luis Garcia who is from the Dominican Republic. "We can't be inconsiderate because they don't have jobs in their country. It's the same thing when illegal people come over here, because their countries are poor and here they have so many opportunities.

Perspectives on one specific ethnic group such, as Hispanics is not always positive. "I think ghetto (when I think of Hispanics) because of the way they dress and present themselves," said junior Ngan Hoang. "Just like in movies, they're stereotyped."

Garcia has his own story to tell on his perspective about Hispanics, especially one of the biggest stereotypes, Hispanics and gangs.

"I'm Hispanic and I didn't know what gangs were until I got here. In my country, I had no idea what that was, I think it's so stupid," said Garcia.

For Nguyen, coming to America was beneficial for his/her education, but made life more difficult than back home.

"In my opinion our life would have been so much better if we had stayed home because then my parents wouldn't have to start over again," said Nguyen. "My mom has to start over going to college and trying to get a graduate degree, and at the same time working. My parents let our big business go in Vietnam to be with our family and to have a better education."

In the end, many just want to pursue a happier life than they would have had back home.

"I want to go to college," said Garcia, "I'm in the drama club, I have good grades, so I'm good in school."
"My dream is to finish school and prepare myself more for a career, said Pac. I want to study engineering."

By Alan Weintraut |  March 1, 2007; 9:38 AM ET
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