I Am An Immigrant – Voices

Growing up with immigrant parents wasn’t so bad. My mother came to America from Haiti in 1981. She enrolled in school and learned English with a little help from daytime soap opera so there wasn’t a language barrier. She may not have spoken the language well, but she was able to get by. My mother didn’t understand certain American concepts such as education. She had no idea what a FAFSA was or why the government needed to know how much she made in a year. So when it came around this time of year, I was pretty much alone in filing my documents. Although situations like this made it difficult because my mother was unable to help me in the ways other parents could help their kids, I still love my mother and the culture she instilled in me. Through my mother’s experiences, I am able to want better for myself and make her proud. I love her culture, the amazing food and all the history her background has to offer. I am also proud we are able to incorporate Haitian culture and American Culture into our daily lives.