Being an immigrant in a new school system, I feel as if I must rebuild in a system that does not recognize my strength. There are assumptions about who I am and what I am capable of, before I even get the chance to show my full potential.
In trying to get placed in the correct classes, I have lost three years of my formal education from a school system that is recognized globally and even used in the United States as an advanced curriculum in some places. I came from a Cambridge/IB curriculum only to get told that my accomplishments are of no use I must restart from scratch.
Not being fully understood or given the opportunity to share fully created a sadness in me that was hard to shake. I lost my courage and strength, and I felt like I lost my voice. I gained insomnia, and felt mentally and physically drained.
I have had to prove myself where I am not recognized for who I am, but looked at for who they think I am.
It is assumed that I can’t speak English since I am from Africa, even though I have taken English in school my entire life and it is the main language spoken where I came from. I have been negatively judged based on my linguistic background. I struggled to readjust academically because it felt like I was moving backwards. There was no consideration for the manner in which I was taught before and how that fits with methods here. Many things I have already learned in my studies in Uganda.
Then the big question is: Where do I see myself in the school system I am in right now and what does my future look like with all that I have experienced so far in such a short time? I wonder about this weekly. These issues are not just my issues and for those coming into this school system from other countries, a change in the way things are done should be greatly considered.
What I have found after several months, though, on the positive side of things, are new people who have had a great impact on me today and who have encouraged me to keep fighting and going forward. I have found advocates to help me get things changed for the better. I guess everything happens for a reason.
The advice I would give a student going through something like this is to keep your head up, keep going, and speak up! Your voice can reach further than you think. Always remember to play chess not checkers. Don’t let anyone use your culture against you.