Student Voices: My Immigrant Experience: An Essay Contest on the Experience of Immigration
Welcome to the " Student Voices: My Immigrant Experience" essay contest, where we celebrate the diverse and courageous journeys of immigrants. This contest aims to provide a platform for individuals to share their powerful stories and reflections on the experience of immigrating to a new country.
Below are the submissions from Lone Star College-Kingwood students who immigrated from around the world. Their voices are a testament to the resilience, diversity, and strength that shape the global tapestry of migration. We hope you enjoy reading their stories and are inspired by the courage and hope within each journey.
Cindy Garret – Contest Winner
Immigrated from Honduras
June of this year marked 30 years since I immigrated to this country. I am now thirty-five. I have lived here longer than I lived in my home country of Honduras. My memories of that life are blocked. Psychologists would later tell me it is called dissociative amnesia. Sometimes, in my dreams, a glimpse of the journey to the U.S. will visit me. Flashes of me staring at the back of someone’s head filled with black curly hair swaying with the wind as I ride piggyback next to a water gallon jug. Then just as the wind speeds up, it takes that memory with it, and I am awakened.
My earliest memory of firsts in America is of a rainy school day. It was coming down hard. The school crossing guard, a sweet Hispanic lady, held me back and told me to head back inside. She flagged the attention of a superintendent who then took my hand and walked me to the front office. The superintendent anxiously attempted to call an immediate relative or emergency contact to come get me. As I waited, my eyes grew heavy, and I slowly started to readjust myself into an office chair, molding my body to its shape so I could rest my head. The superintendent looked up and asked me, “Do you want a pillow?” Mind you, I had been in the country for less than a month. She repeated the question with confusion in her tone. I heard the word “Pillow” and slowly pieced together that she must be trying to say pelo, which is Spanish for “hair.” We went back and forth until she made the universal sign for sleep, tucking both her hands under her cheek and resting her head on them. I ran my fingers through my hair, saying pelo to sound it out phonetically to her. A lovely office assistant walked in and helped translate a few moments later. This would be one of many of “First in America” segments I have tucked in my memory’s museum.
From that point forward, I made sure to learn every word taught during ESL classes. That would come in handy when at eight years old I was the unofficial representative for my parents. I handled the mortgage company calls. Any account that was past due and we needed an extension, do not worry, I was on it. The phone rang and my parents, acting as my secretaries, would come to find me in my room to take the call. Even the calls in Spanish were handed to me. Adapting to a new country and its traditions is one thing; learning to survive for yourself and your parents is another.
My determination to learn English propelled me to test out of ESL classes. Being an ESL kid makes you such a target for bad and stereotypical jokes. If I had to count how many times I was asked if my back was wet, I would have to borrow fingers. Still, living with immigrant parents does not make you safe from embarrassing moments. I still remember the first time I had in-school lunch detention. It turns out the innocent bunny your mom thought was “cute” during back-to-school shopping was the Playboy bunny, and his ears were shaped like the silhouette of a woman’s legs. I can laugh at it now, but back then I was mortified. I was so mad at my mom for not knowing better. I was so quick to judge, forgetting my parents were learning at the same time I was.
America has exposed me to many cultures and experiences. It is not easy leaving your home, no matter what circumstances drove you to do so. My hope is for everyone to remember that immigrants that left their home are humans with stories of a better life, people that seek opportunities not only for themselves but for their future generations. May you encounter them with an open mind, open heart, and lending hand.
Hoang Dang Huy Nguyen – Contest Winner
Immigrated from Vietnam
The “America Dream” That I Have Dreamed
“America, where is it?” I have known America since I was young through books, news, and stories. In my imagination, it was a modern country with a strong economy. However, America was too far away for a child like me, more than eight thousand miles away from Vietnam. However, nearly two years ago, that opportunity to experience the American Dream came to me. I was both happy and worried, eager and regretful. I was happy because a new horizon was about to open up, but I was worried when I had to give up a stable job, familiar life, and beloved people. I thought carefully before deciding that I wanted to explore America, no matter how thorny.
As expected, the three biggest difficulties I had to face were making a living, school, and language. In each country, everyone has to work hard to make ends meet. I am no exception. I have had the chance to work in nail salons. I take care of each hand and foot to make them beautiful and have to calm customers down when they complain. Coming from an office environment, I have found it difficult to get used to the service industry. The same goes for studying. In Vietnam, I would study with hundreds of classmates together for four years. Here each class has different classmates, so I need time to connect. I enrolled in five classes a semester, so the workload was huge. I had to work hard to balance and organize both studying and working effectively. Wherever I was, I had to use all my abilities to be able to understand and communicate. It was very common for me to misunderstand others and vice versa. Google Translate is probably the app that consumes the most battery on my phone.
The cultural differences that I see most clearly are the lifestyle, food, and transportation. Here I rarely see people taking a siesta, although I used to be a regular napper. Here I have to cook for myself to enjoy Vietnamese food; otherwise, I would eat fast food. Here I have to drive a car to “travel” between locations because of long distances. There are still many things that I am not used to, but I have to learn to get used to them every day. Honestly, I rarely cry, but since I came to America, I have cried a few times. I cried because of the pressures of life, missing home, and feeling wistful for myself.
However, for me, they are not difficulties, they are opportunities. It is an opportunity for me to learn more about a new job and develop my communication skills with customers. It is an opportunity for me to experience a developed education with a lot of interesting knowledge. I am happy that I have had straight A’s since enrolling at Lone Star College-Kingwood. It is an opportunity for my English to be better and for me to drive around the United States and enjoy a diverse cuisine from many different places. As the name “United States” implies, I get to meet many people from different cultures. America creates conditions and gives me opportunities to develop into a better version of myself.
There were times when I wanted to give up, but they were just fleeting moments. The difficulties showed me how strong I am to overcome the obstacles, helped me wake up to promote the potential power within myself, and taught me that America still has many horizons for me to explore. Those are the greatest rewards I have received so far. I believe that my decision to come here to live is not right or wrong, but it is the next step that I need to take on the journey of self-discovery. I am 30 years old, and I am starting over. It has not been easy. However, I believe that education and perseverance are the keys to conquering the road ahead. America has given me the opportunity to do that.
People often talk about the American Dream, but I believe that a dream only happens when people are sleeping. The “dream” that America has given me happens when I am awake so that I can look at reality and move on to the great challenges and opportunities in the future. Thank you, America!
Olena Lamziuk – Contest Winner
Immigrated from Ukraine
Immigration is a complex and challenging process that requires immense inner strength, self-belief, the support of loved ones, and the ability to overcome the fear of a new world, a new country, and starting life from scratch. It is a challenge not everyone can handle, but it opens doors to personal growth and self-improvement. An immigrant, choosing not to return to the comfort zone, overcomes challenges every day, striving to be better than they were yesterday.
I came to the United States from Ukraine, fleeing the war that Russia started. My first stop on the way to a new life was in Romania, where I waited for the necessary documents to be processed under the U4U program for entry into America. The war made life in Ukraine unsafe for me and my children. We endured immense stress from constant explosions, destroyed homes, and the uncertainty of whether there would be another tomorrow. We had to leave Ukraine in the middle of winter, with temperatures dropping to -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), traveling on an overcrowded train toward Odesa. Odesa was under threat of attack from Russian ships in the Black Sea. The railroad tracks and cities were being shelled, creating a constant sense of danger. The hardest part was leaving behind loved ones. My father stayed in Ukraine, and many of my friends did not have the courage to leave. The only person I managed to convince was my mother.
Upon arriving in America, I faced a number of challenges. In addition to missing my family and friends, I had to adapt to a new life: learning English, mastering driving on American highways, and covering long distances by car for my job as a DoorDash delivery driver. This was psychologically difficult, as I had previously worked as a lawyer for a large manufacturing company in Ukraine, and that job was a significant part of my identity. Now, I had to deal with new conditions, including driving through tropical downpours, something I had never experienced in Ukraine.
There were additional challenges with my children. I had to send my older daughter to live with her father, who had a job and housing in another state, providing her with a more stable life. My son, who had already experienced the stress of moving to a second country and a second school, struggled to adapt. He found it hard to get along with his American classmates, who were much more outgoing and outspoken than Ukrainian or Romanian children. The language barrier often led to conflicts, and his stress level made it hard for him to cope.
To overcome the language barrier, I had to return to school at the age of forty and study in the ESOL program at Lone Star College. Learning English in the American education system turned out to be very different from what I had learned in Ukraine. Here, I was taught not only grammar and correct pronunciation, but also the importance of using words in context, something I had never been taught before. This understanding became key to my progress in mastering the language.
Despite all the challenges, there were several positive aspects to my immigration experience. My English has improved significantly, and I am no longer afraid to drive on highways. I have become much more independent than before, no longer relying on my husband’s help with everyday tasks. I have realized that I can handle many life challenges on my own. Moreover, I helped my 62-year-old mother learn to drive and pass her driving test – something that was possible thanks to the support of American society. In the U.S., people are incredibly friendly, compassionate, and always willing to help, which is something that was not as common in Ukraine. In short, my immigration experience has been a source of inner strength and confidence in my abilities. By overcoming fear and uncertainty, I have realized that true growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone and facing challenges head-on. Immigration may be difficult, but with resilience, self-belief, and the support of others, you can become stronger and better than you were before, just as I did.
Francisca Carreon – Contest Runner-up
Immigrated from Mexico
The journey over was a blur. Attached to a woman who was not my mother. Forced to drink from a breast that did not belong to my mother. Too young to fully grasp the concept of borders. Too pure to know about hate and prejudice. They say childhood is made up of sounds and smells, until the dark hour when reason dawns over your thoughts. As soon as I was able to grasp the concept of English, I was writing checks, calling utility companies, and translating documents for my parents. I do not remember a time in which the burdens of the American Dream were not placed on me, forced to work as hard as my bones could take. My mind a machine built to execute what was expected of me. Growing up only added to the weight of expectations. A laundry list of who I was supposed to be, of who I was supposed to please. I am the child of forced exile. The daughter of fear. Mom and Dad taught me to behave -- do not be too loud, do as you are told. They did not know I was made to break generational curses or to be the vessel of violent change. It took me some time to grab my bearings, to remember who I am. I am the consequence of generational trauma. I wear the burdens of my ancestral lineage like a crown rimmed by thorns. I am the consequence of my mother’s rage and my father’s silence. Here in the US I am other- never enough. Robbed of a place I never got to experience. What if mom and dad never left? Would I be so bitter? Would I be so angry? Maybe mom could have been gentle. Maybe dad would’ve been present. My journey has not been a pleasant one. I am loud and I am wild because of it. The pain my predecessors have experienced is woven in my blood. But I am here, I continue to stand. I will continue to love. I will continue to fight.
Lauren Lissette Parra Santiesteban – Contest Runner-up
Immigrated from Cuba
Immigrants have diverse reasons as to why they immigrate, and it is not easy, no matter the reason. But many of us had to do it because our life depended on it. In my country, Cuba, the people do not have things that people in most countries have. There is no freedom of expression (except if you are a communist), so you cannot say what you think if it means criticizing the communist regime or Communism as a whole. Your food is also rationed with a notebook, which means the regime tells you how much you can eat, what you can eat and until what age. Can you imagine not having access to milk the moment you are 7 years old? I am sure you can imagine how sad it is for children and people there. The moment you turn fourteen, you are not allowed to consume yogurt either. Aside from that, people get paid a miserly wage which doesn’t allow people to buy whatever they need outside of the rationed food. And if they have the money, then there may be no food and you must wait (if the food ever comes, that is). People resort to the black market, but often it is too expensive, and they cannot afford it either (it is also illegal, so people have to be careful too). If you want to sell a house or anything, you must ask the government (nothing belongs to the people). If you want to move from one province to another, you must ask the government (you are the government’s property). At school, they fill you up with communist, anti-American, and anti-capitalist propaganda in every subject and grade, even if it has nothing to do with the subject (I still have my books from first grade). And if you speak against it, you’re in trouble because ‘’HOW DARE YOU GO AGAINST YOUR OWN COUNTRY, YOU TRAITOR?!’. And of course, you get called gusano/a (worm) if you’re anti-communist and want freedom for your people. There is no medicine available for the people (but plenty for tourists and families of the dictators). Also, no internet or extremely censored internet, which Cubans have managed to dodge thanks to their creativity when coping with misery, repression, and censorship (VPNs). The same has happened with those 1950’s American and Soviet cars you see when you go to Cuba. Cubans have had to manage to still make those run since the regime does not care about its citizens and does not want to import modern ones. And if they do, it is for the regime, the police and tourism, not for the people. Also, there is a censorship system called ‘Comité de Defensa de la Revolución’ (Committee of Defense of the Revolution or CDR) which consists of citizens who, in exchange of material goods (money, food, etc.), tell the regime if you ever speak against the dictatorship, so people do not trust each other. There are three main ways of escaping, two of which are illegal, and one that is legal but must be done carefully. We left the legal way because my sister and I were children and my parents did not want to risk our lives.
Now that you understand why I immigrated, let’s hop to the interesting part. Since immigration from my country is extremely hard and eye-opening, we had to face many challenges. 1. Manage to get the money to leave, which takes years for anyone (if done legally). 2. Learn a little of the language(s) spoken in the new country (we immigrated to Canada first, so my parents had to learn French and English). 3. Adapt to the new country’s culture and way of life (a capitalist system). Our hardest challenge was to adapt to the way of living in Canada since we were used to the communist lifestyle, which was very backwards compared to other normal countries. It was like getting out of a cave. People around us thought we were crazy. We had many cultural differences since we were Caribbean Hispanics in a more European-like country, when it comes to customs. Cubans tend to be loud, friendly, spontaneous, and direct. Canadians tend to be very quiet and do not really like being direct. They beat around the bush, as the saying goes. I became used to the culture and kind of became a little Canadian, as in I became quieter and more introverted and not that direct anymore. So I can say that the new country did shape me when it comes to my personality. I immigrated from Canada to the US almost three years ago, and I can say both countries are very similar culturally. But there are a few differences like Americans being way friendlier than Canadians. Also, Canada has two official languages (English and French), so immigrants must learn one or two languages, depending on what province they move to. In the US, immigrants learn one language, which makes things easier for adaptation. Another difference is that America is very diverse (racially and ethnically) compared to Canada. Aside from that, both are the same, thus making my second immigration process easy.
Ridab Butt
Immigrated from Pakistan
Pakistan, August of 2008. After a series of bombings across the country and the rise of terrorism and extremism, my parents packed their lives into four suitcases and moved to Kuwait with me, barely two years by then. It wasn’t hard for me, for I barely remember anything of the two years I spent in my motherland. But for my father, to leave behind the only country he had known was a nightmare. What lay in the distance, unknown lands for him, he did not know. My mother tells me that the day before they left, he spent the time revisiting memories of family, dead and alive, that lingered in our house. “I'll send you money every month and try to visit”, he told my grandmother, but little did he know the first two months he would spend in Kuwait would be spent sleeping on the floor, eating two-minute ramen, and working two jobs to support his daughter, me. The path he walked on felt lonely, but he never once looked back. He felt his culture swaying away and looked at the sky, hoping to see something that reminded him of his previous life. He looked at the water, but it was never like the lake of Saif ul Mulook, where he could see his own face. The next time he went back home would be in 2012, after the birth of my brother, who he named Saif after his favorite lake. My mother, on the other hand, did not find immigrating that hard, as she had spent the first ten years of her life in Kuwait before the Gulf War forced her to move to Pakistan with her family. I, at age two, moved to Kuwait to escape the turmoil and threat to people like us, the non-believers, the kaffir, the politically outspoken. My mother, at age 10, had moved to Pakistan to escape war and turmoil too. It seemed like my mother and I had intertwined fates.
Kuwait, July 2012-2024. Kuwait was one of the richest countries, both culturally and economically, and I spent my life enjoying the cuisine and heritage. I celebrated the 26th of February, Liberation Day, as if it were my own country’s liberation day. I ate their food and learned how to make it as if it were my own. However, whatever I did, one way or another, someone would make me realize that I was not one of them and I never would be. One unfortunate day, I was standing in the school bathroom and fixing my hair when a girl I had never met before came up to me and exclaimed, “You’re a Paki, and our school is no place for a dirty, stinky Paki like you.” I was nine then, and today almost 10 years later I still remember her face, her expressions, for she looked like she had seen a dirtbag. When I told a counselor, she shrugged it off saying the girl was the daughter of the school owner, and thus this chapter ended right there and then. Throughout these years, we would visit Pakistan, and that is how I developed a sense of cultural identity and love for my homeland.
USA, January 2024. In January 2024, after completing my O-levels, I once again packed my entire life into two suitcases, got on a 17-hour flight, and moved across the ocean to Texas. The flight itself was not hard, but I cried and cried the whole time, for I was moving to a foreign country once again. Since I moved here, I have come across so many different people, and in their faces, I search for familiarness. But these people have been the sweetest I have ever come across, from Kuwait and Pakistan to UAE and Turkey. From the counselors to the teachers to the cashiers and random people, everyone here felt so welcoming and hospitable. Although I have been here only nine months, I have begun to feel like it is my home, and it is where I belong because my parents did not move to two different countries and then send me to a different continent for me to fail.
Shanel Rodrigues
Immigrated from India
Moving from Goa, India, to Texas was an emotional transition for me. Goa, with its rich Portuguese culture, is a place where the present is reminiscent of history. The food, lively festivals, beautiful houses and streets, along with Sunday church gatherings with family, made life so special. I was sixteen years old when I came to the U.S. Personally, I did not like the idea of moving to a different country for good. This was because of the love that my friends and family gave me back home. However, we were not able to afford to stay there too long.
The decision to move back to the U.S was a defining moment for my sister and I after our parents’ separation. My mother had to carry the burden of this decision on her shoulders. I felt like I started my life again from the very beginning. My mom, now a single mom, managed to keep us away from the turmoil and fight her own battles along the way. In Texas, it was difficult to find comfort given that it was a new place with new people. However, my sister, my mom and I grew a lot closer in these past few years. There were moments when I felt like I was in a strange new world, and the absence of my old friends and family made it even more challenging. I felt out of place seeing others spending time with their groups of friends while mine were no longer by my side. My mother was strong and never gave up. She has worked very diligently to provide for the two of us. In Texas, I had to find a way to adjust to the life of people in school. I noticed it was more of an individualistic lifestyle. It was definitely a surprise to me since in Goa we lived in communities that had close relationships. This made it extremely difficult for me to fit into a place where connections were more difficult to form.
However, through these challenges, I learned that God was guiding me to become a better and more mature person as I grew older. My mother’s resilience inspired me to keep learning, and my family grew closer, relying on each other for support. I realized that being in the U.S. could provide me with more opportunities, and I eventually let go of the idea that this place was not for me. I became stronger by embracing change, learning to adapt to the new environment, and building my life in Texas. This experience has taught me to be strong, confident, and adaptable to the changes that may come in my life.
Justin Matute
Written from the perspective of his mother, Ada Miranda, who immigrated from Honduras
My immigrant experience began when I was just 15 years old, leaving my homeland of Honduras to seek a new life in the United States. The journey was fraught with challenges, both in transit and upon arrival. My first destination was Kansas, where I quickly found myself navigating a world that felt foreign and unwelcoming. The people around me were often dismissive, and the simple act of finding a place to lay my head at night became a struggle. I remember sleeping on the floor in a cramped space, wondering how the American Dream could lead to such discomfort. Yet, amidst the hardships, I was determined to forge a path for myself; this resolve was fueled by the hope of a brighter future.
At sixteen, life took an unexpected turn for me—I became pregnant. The news was overwhelming and brought a mix of emotions: joy, fear, and uncertainty. Balancing the demands of work and the impending responsibilities of motherhood was daunting. I was forced to juggle long hours on the job while grappling with the physical and emotional fatigue of pregnancy. My son, Justin Matute, was born when I was just seventeen. The moment I held him in my arms, I felt an immense rush of love, but also a weight of responsibility that seemed almost unbearable.
Despite the struggles, I stayed hopeful and sought a better life for my son. This desire propelled me to move to Louisiana in search of improved job opportunities. I believed that by moving, I could provide a more stable environment for Justin and myself. Louisiana, with its vibrant culture and closer proximity to family, seemed like a practical choice. However, the transition was not without its difficulties. I met new challenges, such as finding suitable employment and creating a balance between work and parenting. The weight of my situation sometimes felt insurmountable, especially after the father of my child left us when Justin was just three years old.
The departure of Justin's father turned my life upside down. As a single mother, I faced the monumental task of raising a child on my own, while simultaneously striving to support a semblance of stability. The emotional and financial strains weighed heavily on me. I realized that I needed the support of my family, and that led to my decision to move to Texas. This relocation marked a pivotal point in our lives. Being closer to relatives provided a safety net; their emotional and practical support made a significant difference. Although the journey was still fraught with challenges, we found a measure of comfort in the familiar faces around us.
In Texas, I began to rebuild my life. The challenges of single motherhood tested my limits, yet I also found a resilience I never knew I had. I learned to navigate the system for social services, found work that allowed me both to provide for Justin and to spend quality time with him, and built a community that offered support. My immigrant experience has been
shaped by a tapestry of hardships and triumphs, an intricate design woven from threads of struggle and perseverance.
Looking back, I see how far I have come, fueled by the desire to ensure that my son has a better life than I did. My story is one of resilience, not only for myself but also for Justin, who stands for hope for the future. The struggles faced have made us stronger, and through it all, I have learned that the path of life may be uncertain, but the pursuit of a better existence is a powerful motivator.
Szu-Ting Huang
Immigrated from Taiwan
My Journey in the U.S.
I was determined to challenge myself by stepping out of my comfort zone. Moving to the United States was the first time I had left home for so long. I grew up in a small city in Taiwan, surrounded by my family and friends. I was nervous and anxious after making the decision because it was a challenge to learn a new language and culture. I did not know whether I could fit in with a new life or not, but I knew that if I never tried to move to the U.S., I would regret it in the future. When I told my family that I decided to move to the United States, my father was particularly worried about me because I always relied on my parents when I lived with them in Taiwan. Immigrating into the U.S. was the hardest decision that I have ever made. As an immigrant in the U.S., I have a very different experience in terms of education, culture, and daily life.
Studying in the American education system is different in many ways. The Taiwanese education system mainly focuses on memorization and achieving high scores. The students in Taiwan are passive learners, and they are afraid of making mistakes in class. In contrast, the American education emphasizes critical thinking and active participation. The students are encouraged to ask questions, expand their opinions, and engage in discussions, which leads to a diverse and dynamic conversation. It allows students to respect different opinions and explore their thoughts. There are no right or wrong answers during a discussion. However, when I am in a group discussion, my thoughts often turn blank, while my classmates always appear to have various opinions. Although this always makes me frustrated, it pushes me to think more critically.
My experience highlights cultural differences between Taiwan and the U.S. In Taiwan, people tend to place significant importance on social norms while in the U.S. the culture emphasizes individualism. For instance, people who wear strange clothing or dye their hair a unique color might not be judged by Americans when walking on the street or on campus. But if it happens in Taiwan, most people will stare at them and judge their appearance. This focus on social norm has affected my own life. My close friends and family in Taiwan tell me directly, “You eat too much. Therefore, you are going to be fat if you do not control your diet.” Hearing those comments while eating made me feel stressed and upset. However, here, I feel relieved. Nobody cares about whether I will be gaining weight or not. People here tend to focus on who I am rather than how I look. This perspective helps me embrace myself. I have started asking myself, “Why should I care so much about what others think of my appearance?”
My daily life in the U.S. has taught me to embrace independence. In Taiwan, I was used to relying on my family for daily tasks. For example, my mother always cooked dinner after I came home, so I never had to worry about cooking or going to grocery stores to purchase food. However, in the U.S., I have become more independent. I prepare my own meals, go to grocery stores, and manage to pay my own bills. One of the most significant changes is driving. Although I obtained my driver’s license after I graduated high school in Taiwan, I had never driven until I moved here. Now, I enjoy driving myself. In the past, I relied on my friends and my father to drop me off and pick me up. Through these changes, I benefit from learning essential daily tasks, which enriches my life in the U.S.
Starting a new life in the United States has brought many different perspectives to me, from education systems to cultural differences, and these experiences have also helped me grow stronger as a person. I am grateful for breaking out of my comfort zone since it allows me to get new experiences. Meanwhile, it gives me opportunities to explore and broaden my perspectives on my personal life. Otherwise, I would still have a limited outlook. Ultimately, these experiences have provided me with valuable life lessons and can further expand my horizons.
Aracelys Urdaneta
Immigrated from Venezuela
My Immigrant Experience in the USA
My husband and I immigrated from Venezuela to the USA in March of 2018. We arrived here by plane with our tourist visas. The city that received us was Orlando, Florida. For the first three months we were living in a hotel, and then we moved to a friend’s house. This house was our home for one year, and we shared the house with other Venezuela immigrants. This time allowed us to discover the importance of change in life. In the beginning, it was hard for us. We did not have work, and we did not have a car either, but the most important part was we had faith in God. We started in a very simple but hard job as housekeepers at a hotel, but we were always looking for a better job opportunity. Once we were visiting our friend, and there we met a guy who had a construction company. He hired us, and we started a new story. After this, life for us started to change for the better. With this job, we could travel inside the USA and visit new cities and places. When the contract with this company ended, we were unemployed for about one month. Then we found a better job, my husband in a construction company and me in a very big factory, but always in our hearts we were incomplete. We always kept chasing our dreams. Both of us are mechanical engineers, and we wanted to improve in our careers. We decided to move to Houston, Texas, and here we found very good jobs in the oil and gas area. Now we are living in a very nice apartment, and each family member has their own room, and we have two cars. We are a very happy family even though we must work a lot. We received my parents and my husband’s parents. It was an amazing time with them. The sad part of the story is we cannot leave this country and so we cannot see our family who are in Venezuela and Canada. We only keep our faith that someday we can see them again. We miss our daughter, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and friends a lot. My message for all immigrant people, do not never give up, keep your faith in God, trust in yourself, in your ability, in your skills, be prepared for all situations that will come in your life, be confident, support with your loved ones, support each other, and do your best no matter who is watching you. Life is very short, so enjoy each moment. You are not alone. Be grateful for the country that welcomed you, and God bless the USA.