Essay on Immigrant's Perspective on Being American

My parents immigrated to the United States at a very young age. Having no higher education than elementary school, the only jobs they could find were working in the orchards. They would pick and thin apples during the summers, and prune trees during the cold winters. As soon as I was of working age, I would go out into the fields with them from early sunrise until the intense heat scorched our necks and faces. At a young age, I learned the harsh reality of what the daily life of an immigrant is. The long hours of hard work in the unforgiving heat of the sun; all for the low wages they were paid. These experiences in the orchard instilled in me a sense of drive to further my education and work hard to help families that were at a disadvantage as

Coming back to the U.S. for the second time in my life after nine years was perhaps one of the most challenging obstacles I have ever had to face. Not only did I have to accustom myself to the language but also to a newer, differentiated culture. Also, with that came some bullying and taunting that did not pull me down but instead opened my eyes to see what a strong and enduring person I could be. With help from my teachers and my supporting family as they helped buffer my experience and transition to a different world, I was able to overcome the typical immigrant challenge that thousands have to face.

Since the time of the American Revolution, people always asking “What is an American?-Today, Americans tend to believe the religion and the politics of government have had the biggest impacted on American identity because it has introduced a new system structure nations, cultures, and the Enlightenment's ideas to form the United States.

Growing up as the child of parents who immigrated to the United States and being an immigrant myself, I realize the challenges that we continue to face. The current political stance on immigration in the United States of America is not in our favor, but regardless I see the U.S as the land of opportunity compared to the town I left behind in Xochipala, Guerrero. Being an undocumented student can be perceived as negative thing by others, but coming to the United States, has made me the responsible, ambitious, resilient, sagacious, and loquacious young man I am today.

Everyone has a different story of how they ended up where they are. But in many ways, people’s stories are all similar. There are many hardships that every family has to deal with when immigrating to a different country that they are not a citizen of. There are barriers and pulls, but there are also bridges and pushes. Even though people are from different countries immigrating to the United States, they all experience almost all of the same hardships, as displayed in the Pechota Family, John, and René’s immigration stories.

Webster?s Dictionary defines American as or its inhabitants. But is that all America and an American truly is? Is a person American simply because of geography? According to Identities, ?America is a confluence of cultures.? Americans are people whose lives depict men and women who are trying to be as successful and robust as possible, this quest is symbolic to citizens of many other countries. This is why America illustrates the Statue of Liberty, a structure that symbolizes freedom throughout the world. America is composed not only of these peoples, but the cultures and the ways of life of these people.

However, before I started high school, my father's workplace was transferred therefore I moved to the United States with my family. I went to a local high school in California and I thought I have to go through the hardship of cultural different over again. Fortunately, I adapted to the American life much quicker than when I lived in Australia due to my experience with a foreign culture. Also, I did not experience too much difficulty with the English language even though accent and pronunciation were different from Australia. As a second language learner who had experience of learning a new language, I understand how difficult it is to assimilate into a foreign culture and to learn its language.

For many of years, there have been immigrants from all over the country that come to America. Since 1865 to even today, immigrants come from different countries to the United States for many opportunities at a better life for their family and more jobs. But since then, a lot has changed now for the people that want to come to the states. There has been positive and negative changes for immigrants in America. They differ from the countries they migrate from, to the kinds of jobs they work, and the different laws that’s been passed from the 1800’s to today.

(Gallup, What Being American Means to Today’s Youth). The amount of freedom and independence America has makes it unique and different from the rest of the globe. The word ‘American’ also

My parents and I immigrated to America when I was three years old. Back then, I did not realize how dramatically this move would change the course of my life, all I wondered was why I couldn’t understand a word anyone spoke. With the support of my parents and teachers, I was able to quickly catch up to my peers both socially and academically. I was aware of the size and diversity of the world from a young age because I frequently travelled back to Russia to visit family. At school, I described the journey to my friends and we all became engrossed in learning about unfamiliar cultures and languages.

I’m an immigrant. I was born in Mexico and it was only until my parents decided to come to the United States that I am where I am. My mother tried to cross the border to come to the United States for the first time when I was still in her womb all by herself as my father was already in the Unites States working in order to provide for her in the way that he wasn’t able to do so by staying in Mexico. My mother was caught by immigration and was sent back. My mother was very disappointed because she knew that if she didn’t get me to the United States some way or another I wouldn’t get very far in life by staying in Mexico. My father returned back to Mexico when I was born and it wasn’t until I was 4 years old that they decided to try to cross the border once again. Although I was only 4 years old I remember the whole experience as if it was yesterday. The amount of fear of getting caught by immigration and having done everything for nothing was always in the back of my mind while going through the whole experience. Up to this day nothing has ever been as terrifying and nerve-wrecking as having to go through that whole experience especially for a 4 year old child but I will forever be grateful for the bravery and strength that my parents had to gather in

The Filipino and Japanese immigrant to the United States in the 19th century. There are different push and pull factor that brought these ethnic group out of their country and move to the united states. The main reason that these ethnic group move out their country was searching for the “American Dream” which give them the opportunity for a better life, education, and wealth. Both Filipino and Japanese was the first group that came to Hawaii to work during the popularity production of sugar and agricultural in the mainland. They face discrimination and low-wages job with no benefits. However, they brought their own culture and skill to the United States which make difficult for them to adapt into the American culture. Although the Filipino and Japanese immigrant have the same common experiences coming to the unites states. There are some highlight similarities and difference between these two ethic.

I was thrust into an entirely new world when I was just six years old. Growing up I was a normal kid learning to read, write, add, and subtract just like every other typical American boy. Little did I know my entire life was about to be changed. Around 2004 my parents informed me that my family would be moving from the chilly Northern air of Kenosha, Wisconsin to the dry Southern heat of Querétaro, Mexico. Never have I experienced something so life changing as I did then. From meeting new people, to learning a new language and gaining new experiences, living in Mexico has shaped me into who I am.

There are vast differences between the United States and the Philippines that I was unaware of, and Mark made a comment that really shocked. I expected the two countries to be similar in many ways, though he said that he sees no similarities between the two countries. However, he did point out that with recent movements of global Westernization the Philippine Islands are slowly becoming more similar to the United States, as are many recently developing countries. One of main recent reasons why they are severely behind the United States is due to the prior dictatorship regime of Ferdinand

When I first moved to the United States, one of the things that confused me the most about Americans was their apparent lack of hospitality. It was almost astounding the way our neighbors were so inhospitable to those around them. They did not converse with anyone on the block nor did they give out the feeling of wanting to converse with anyone. The only friendly people there were the Filipino families next to our house and the one four houses down from ours. I loved my culture because as a kid, I grew up being taught to respect everyone around you and always be kind and caring. It was taught to me by my grandparents, my parents, my teachers, and my peers. The Filipino sense of hospitality is, in my opinion, one the the best things in the