My Immigrant story
I am a 16 year old British immigrant arriving in the United States for the first time in 1965 to start a new life with my family of four. Here is my story.
July 26, 1965
Today, my family and I set foot on Ellis Island in New York, starting my life in the United States. Everything hit me so fast, so quickly. It was hard to comprehend all the new things I was experiencing. I never imagined I would live to see it after my dreadful month at sea. My sea sickness got the best of me during our voyage, and it was the worst thing I have ever experienced. The captain of the ship announced that we would reach the port at Ellis Island today at 6:00 PM, so at around 5:00 PM, my brother and I sped through dinner and our daily shower. At 5:45, we raced out on to the dock, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and the shore of our new home. I stepped onto the rails, letting the wind flow through my short, curly hair. We waited for ten minutes until I saw the slightest hint of the shore, and within the next 15 minutes, we were almost there. I was awestruck by the beauty of the Statue of Liberty, glistening under the scorching rays of the summer sun. Everything seemed so beautiful and I was excited to start my new life here in America. Hopefully, we can all start over and grow to become rich.
August 16, 1965
I started school at Wheatley High School in Wheatley, New York, today, and I never want to go back. I hate the people! I hate the school! I hate everyone! I kept on getting glares from all of the students, and even a couple people made fun of my accents. I just want to go home to where I feel safe with my friends. At school, I fail to blend in like a chameleon in a completely white room. I can't do anything to hide my true colors, and everyone makes fun of me for it. On the other hand, I did find one other friend, who also came from Britain last year. He was in my Algebra class, and he introduced himself to me. I am starting to lose faith in my hopes that I had for America. I just hope I can start to make friends.
December 25, 1965
I would think Christmas would be a time to rejoice with family, but this holiday season will be a depressing for me and my family. My father was just laid off form his job working in the steel factory this past week, so we don't have any source of income at all. Since the day my father was laid off, I have secretly been looking for jobs to help out my family. My mother would disapprove of my efforts to find work because she wants me to focus on school. I feel like I can manage both if it means that I help my family survive. It hurts me to see my mother crying every night because she just doesn't have enough food to feed me and my brother. In school, I have decided at this point to completely devote myself to my studies and homework. I haven't found any new friends since that first day when I met Todd, so I spend my extra time studying instead of going to the movies or hanging out like everyone else. Anyways, the situation is looking particularly bleak; I hope my father can find work soon. Until then, I will have to help out the family in every way possible.
February 12, 1970
It has been 5 years since I have moved to the United States and much has happened to my family. Since I last wrote, my father found a new job working in the production of cars at a Ford manufacturing plant. My father got the job just as our family was giving up hope, and now, my family is thriving. In addition, I was able to attend New York University with a scholarship so that my parents didn't have to pay for my college tuitions. I never really fit in with my high school peers, but in college, that all changed. New York brings together such a diverse population, so it seems as if I barely stand out. I have a great group of friends who I spend my days with wandering the mesmerizing streets of New York City. I visited Broadway and the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island multiple times. My family has flourished in New York ever since I left for college, and they now have their own three bedroom home with a television set as well. I can now truly say I have lived the American Dream. My family and I came to American with barely any money, and we managed to flourish and overcome the challenges we faced to succeed through hard work.