Immigrant Personal Statement

I was four years old when my family immigrated to the U.S. We lived in a predominantly white city. My first introduction to the American education system was a few months later when I entered kindergarten. As a recent immigrant, I had no knowledge of the English language. My memories remain of the difficulty this created for me and my inability to connect with my classmates resulted in isolation very early on.
As a young immigrant, I struggled to come to terms with my identity. There was a very strong expectation that I would speak Spanish at home and conform to the traditions and values my family carried with us from our country. At school, the expectations were different. It seemed as though every student’s parents knew each other, they all had college savings account, and they shared a culture that was unique to them. Though I participated in school rituals, I did not fully belong, and because I was tainted by American society, I did not fully belong in my parent’s world either.
I have always been very aware of the sacrifices my parents had to make in order for me to have the opportunities I have had. They wanted more for me than what they had been able to achieve in Mexico. This created a …show more content…
The desire to pursue a college degree led me to overload my academic schedule with advanced placement classes, all while struggling with recurring depressive symptoms. The pressure to succeed and a demanding class load led me to plummet to depression my junior year of high school, a fall that was difficult to overcome on my own. At the time, I refused to seek help due to the stigma that was placed on mental illness. I did not want to rely on medication and I felt that receiving counseling meant I was weak and unable to manage on my own. Although I eventually overcame my depression, it was much harder than it should have