Republished from the Hartford Public High School Student Newspaper - The Owl Report
By Estefhany Cepeda Paulino & Juan David Alvarado Lopez
Classrooms in the United States have been diversified by immigration, but this change has not been without its challenges. Immigrant students who come to this country in search of a better life often face a number of challenges and struggles that can make their experience in school complicated. One of the most significant barriers immigrant students face when adjusting to life in the United States is the difficulty of mastering the English language. Many students feel the pressure of not being able to understand classes, participate in programs, or socialize because of English. Jeilyn Martinez, a junior, said, “I feel like I have missed out on a lot of opportunities because of my limitations of not being able to know English.”
By not being able to speak English fluently, you lose opportunities that could benefit you. I, Estefhany, know how difficult it is to not be able to take opportunities that could help you because you don't know English. It's something that makes you feel guilty or stupid. Not being able to speak English also means we feel the barrier of not being able to communicate with students and making friends. Milagros Huerta, a junior student, mentions: “In some classes I have felt excluded because of cultural differences and language.”
Not being able to communicate fluently in English, she feels isolated and finds it difficult to make friends in her new environment. Adjusting to American schools can be challenging for immigrant students. The differences in teaching style and academic expectations can be unfamiliar. Brianna Sanchez, a junior, said, “At first, I had a hard time adjusting to this new school and these new people since I didn’t know anything or anyone. Everything was new to me and I felt a little lost.”
It’s hard to be in a place where you don’t know anyone, it’s completely different from what you’re usually used to, and you may feel like you’re not welcome there. According to Dr. Crespo, an educator with experience teaching multilingual students, said, “In some cases, with our multilingual students, attending school is a requirement during their immigration process. For these students, school is one of the best ways to integrate into a new society and culture. Here at school, they connect with other students from their countries, who speak their own languages and share their cultures.”
At school, multilingual students are able to connect with other peers who share their backgrounds, languages, and cultures, making it easier for them to adapt and feel a sense of belonging. She also said, “Many of our multilingual students work long hours after school. Some work until midnight. Some finish work at 1 am. They work long hours and feel tired because they are not getting enough sleep.”
The stress and anxiety that comes from having to balance work and studies can affect the mental and emotional health of multilingual students, which in turn can have a negative impact on their academic performance. I, David Alvarado, believe that the students who have immigrated to this country in search of new opportunities and ways to improve themselves day by day face barriers. Some of these barriers look like the lack of knowledge in a new country and feeling for the first time that they are alone, far from mom and dad! Having to work and study, going to classes while sleepy, having to leave school and go to work, waiting for a public bus, or even having to run to catch it on time makes you tired. These students can also easily get lost on their first time going to work, school or other places by themselves. They can get lost without knowing how to return home. Just imagine having to suffer through cold or heat, and then getting home, having to sit down and reflect on your day. Imagine eating alone at a table in the middle of the night after work, and missing your family. Imagine seeing a happy family in a park and wishing that you had yours by your side. Consider the different experiences that some students have shared. Gelen Ortiz,a senior, said, "When I came to school on the first day, I felt very excluded from people, I couldn't communicate with people. I consider my time here being somewhat difficult, especially when it comes to learning new things, culture, language, and having to feel pressured by all this. It caused me insecurity, I have let many opportunities pass me by [because of my circumstances.]”
We can also see how other students share different lived experiences, and what they have excelled at and can share with us today. Lucila Ortiz shared her experiences: "At first it was such a difficult process to have to fit into a new school, new languages that you never imagined you would learn. An obstacle that I think most of us have is having to work and come to classes, sometimes with sleep, but I consider that it is part of the process of success. Language, culture and different thoughts from other people are things that you have to adapt to. Keep studying and fight for your dreams and fight for the reason why we are here."
Fear and insecurity are two things that do not allow students who are immigrants to move forward. Many immigrants are afraid of not being able to speak or pronounce words well in English, or worse still, not knowing about the laws or rules of a new country. Many students try to excel every day. Many of the problems they face center around wanting to study but instead having to work to support themselves. Like everyone, there are times when we only need a smile from that friend or perhaps those strong words, "you are not alone in this."
Nostalgia and melancholy are two things that every immigrant carries in their hearts. We all have various problems as immigrants, however, many prefer to hide them. One thing I, David, am sure of, at some point in life we will achieve our goals, and that is why we have left behind our beautiful family.
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