Written by Camden Students, compiled by Ruth Thorsgaard, Rebecca Nixon, and Susan Breedlove of Camden High School
Camden High has experienced an influx of dozens of students immigrating to the U.S. from South and Central America this school year. The vast majority have come from Ecuador. Teachers Ruth Thorsgaard and Rebecca Nixon asked them to answer some leading questions related to their immigration to the U.S. by writing in Spanish, their homeland language. The students next translated their stories from Spanish to English. The following is one student’s story, and excerpts from some additional classmates. For referencesee Part I in the June issue of Camden Community News.
My immigration story
Hello, my name is Brittany, I am from Ecuador. I left on July 21, 2023. It was very painful for me and my family. The reasons why we left the country due to lack of economy and because there was crime, murders in our country. Our journey was very strong and very difficult because every time we changed countries it was different food, different money, in short, a new culture from other countries. When I entered immigration, they locked us up and had us there in cold rooms waiting for one answer. Later they gave me papers and I was happy because I know that the effort we made was not voluntary and with the blessing of God we passed and if they gave us this opportunity to be here in the United States it is for a good purpose. They were the future for me and my family. It is up to us to move forward because I do miss my relatives from Ecuador a lot. I miss them very much and we are going to fight for them.
Why folks immigrated to Minnesota in 2023-24
“I came to the United States to have a better life, to take care of my sister and to join my father who I had not seen for 16 years.” Jeimy
“I left the country (Ecuador) because I didn’t have a job and there was a lot of crime.” Junior
“We came for our economics.” Pamel
“My life in Ecuador was not so good. My parents helped me and my siblings to get by with the little they could give us. I came to the United States with my father because of the need for money. After three months we were able to bring my mother and my sister. My sisters who were 17 and 21 had to stay because we didn’t have enough money to bring them. A lot of people we knew who were in the U.S. earned a good salary and there is a lot of work.” Aide
Feelings about leaving one’s homeland
“What I miss the most is my grandparents, my dog, my dad, my brother. It was the saddest thing to have left them.” Anahi
“What I miss most about the country where I come from is the food, the places, my family, you could say that everything is why I love my country even though it is far away.” Alexandra
“I miss leaving home and living with my family and also with my animals because I enjoyed the moments with the people I loved the most. What I don’t miss about Ecuador is the lack of food and the crime.” Aide
The journey to the U.S.
“When I was living in Mexico, Reynosa (the city) was cool because we played soccer almost all the time, we also drew and learned some things at the shelter. Every Sunday, everyone in the shelter had to go to worship and pray. Most of us lived in tents and others lived in small houses. People who had babies slept in the houses.” Scarlett
“I came from France alone. The rest of my maternal family is in Ecuador and my paternal family is in Spain.” Kimy
“I have been to these countries (coming from Ecuador): Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. The trip was very difficult but it was worth it to get to the U.S.” Hugo
“I have lived in Ecuador and been to Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. My life in those countries was difficult and unforgettable experience.” Ehimy
“I come from Ecuador. I left my country seven months ago. I went through a lot of things that were horrible. In a few days we ran out of money and we didn’t know how to continue working, but with the help of many family members we managed to get out of it. That is not even half of what we lived on a very difficult path. When we left the jungle we entered some very ugly shelters and they were very disgusting. Then we moved on to something easier. There were then only buses and nothing more, but there were times when we were delayed due to lack of money. From there we arrived in Mexico and went around the security checkpoints. We arrived at the border and we turned ourselves in.” Alan
Dreams
“I have only lived in Guatemala. I came to the United States with my mother and my little sister. My dream is to graduate and get a degree and then save a lot of money and start a foundation to help low-income people back home because they come here out of necessity.” Jasly
“My dream here is to be able to have a future here, to have a job and to be able to get a visa to be able to return to my country (Ecuador).” Shirley
“I want to graduate and be a police officer.” Naomi
“My dream is to finish my studies, return to my country (Ecuador) and see my loved ones again.” Stalin
“My only dream I have at the moment is to graduate.” Michael
“My dream is to be in the army here in the United States.” Dilan
“My biggest dream is to be a police officer or soldier.” Joel
“My dream is to be a forensic doctor. I want to travel and to have a lot of money to help people and my family and provide a free veterinarian for the animals.” Roxanne
“Immigration is bad but sometimes you just have to do it since you are not stable in your country, although you are going to miss it. My Dream is to be an architect or engineer.” Leitto
Building bridges of understanding
“In the United States they do not have the same beliefs and cultures as our country. What I would say to those who migrate from one country to another is that you have to be patient to get used to a new country.” Shirley
“If I could educate someone about immigration it would be to tell them to respect this country a lot and to comply with the laws.” Franger
“What I miss about my country is my family, gatherings and celebrations like Christmas and New Year. What I would like to tell an U.S. citizen is to understand that my life has been full of difficulties that did not allow me to live well in my country.” Joel