Quince Orchard High School Celebrates Diversity
People Around the World
Volume 3, Issue 1
October 2009
Bimonthly Faculty Newsletter
New Beginnings:
Immigrant Students Experience Family Reunification
1 in 5 students
in the United States is an
immigrant or a child of immigrants. In the process of
migration, many families become separated for extended periods of time. Studies show that some 80%
of Latin American immigrant children coming to
schools in the U.S. are experiencing reunification!
The two main results of this separation:
children experience an education gap

they are more likely to drop out of high school
They are likely to have an education gap because in
many cases they go to work or spend time taking care
of siblings in their home country once the parents immigrate to the U.S. In some cases these children are
neglected when left with relatives, and school attendance is not a priority. Or the gap may be due to inconsistencies in the school year when they move between countries.

17%-those not separated during migration
migrants, plus the trauma of rebuilding family relationships can be overwhelming. As a result, reunification
greatly impacts a child’ s academic performance.
The positive side is that these youth recognize the
sacrifices of their parents, and they are usually highly
succeed.( G indling &
Poglio,
asked who was my dad, I would tell them the name
of my dad’s best friend; he visited me sometimes. I
had only one picture of my dad, and my mom didn’t
decided that my sister and I should come to live here
because there was a civil war going on in my country. It was not even safe for us to go to school.
◊ When I met my dad after coming to the US, I had
mixed feelings. I was so sad to leave my mom and I
didn’t even know my dad. I had to start a whole new
life. It was confusing. Since coming here, I call my
mom twice a week. Now our situation is pretty bad.
My sister and I don’t talk with my dad and his wife.
our own food even. I don’t want to ask my father for
lish proficiency, and low economic status of many im-
to
old. I grew up with Mom and my sisters. If someone
either go to work or we stay in our room. We cook
The overall challenges of culture shock, lack of Eng-
motivated
◊ My dad left us for the States when I was 4 months
My stepmom treats us like servants. My sister and I
Overall high school drop out rates for immigrants:
40%--those separated during migration
Student from Ivory Coast
tell me much about him. When I was 16, my dad


PROFILE 1
2009:
anything.
My advice for teachers: I want you to
understand my feelings; sometimes I
am just thinking about surviving!
◊ For students experiencing reunification: Try to
find something to do so you are not always thinking
about it. Try to be independent.
www.umbc.edu/posi/documents/Immigrationbrief.pdf )
PAW links are LIVE when you view this online at http://esol.qohs.org/PAW/PAW.htm.
PROFILE 2
Student from China
◊ I was in the 1st grade when my dad left us for
the U.S. They didn’t explain it to me. I thought it
was because my dad and mom were fighting.
Later my dad told me it was so that he could make
more money and give us a better life. I didn’t cry
at the airport; I did that when he hugged me a few
nights before and told me to be a good boy. I lived
with my mom and grandparents.
◊ When he asked me to come, I was 12. I immediately said yes. I came with my mom. She didn’t
want to come because she had a very nice life in
China. She was a manager of a business and she
made lots of money. She tells me that she only
came here for me. I was especially sad to leave my
grandpa because he was ill. He died after I left.
◊ I felt really shy to meet my dad. It was like a guy
PROFILE 3
Student from Guatemala
◊ My mom left me with an older sister when I
was six. Sometimes I lived with my grandma. I
know she came to the USA for a better life and
to help us. When she left me, I remember how
confused I was. I was really angry and I fought
with my sister. When I was 14, I decided to
come and find her. I told her on the phone and
she agreed.
◊ When my mom saw me, she cried. We were so
happy. She gave me new clothes and we went to
La Frontera restaurant to eat. It was easy to
start living with her because she is very nice.
◊ For teachers: Help us to do better in school.
Talk with me. Tell me what I need to do.
◊ For students experiencing reunification:
Go forward. Look for goals. Don’t give up!
I never knew. We hugged each other. After a
week or so, we started to talk, and now we talk a
lot. He puts a lot of pressure on me to study .
Now we all get along and I feel like we are a family. I’m happy.
My advice to teachers: Try to know more about
your students. Find out about their situation.
If I were in my father’s shoes, I would do
the
same thing. I would come to the U.S. too because I
want my children to get a good education.
PROFILE 4 (continued on next page)
Student from Cameroon
◊ My mom left for the US when I was about 13 yrs old. The day she left was so sad. She promised we
would be together soon. So I lived with my father, but he traveled a lot. I stayed with a housekeeper. I
was the “mother” of the house for one year, for two younger siblings, until my aunt moved in. Finally, five
years later, my mother told us she would bring us over to the States.
I was very happy.
◊ When I finally met my mom, I was so happy that I jumped on her. She cried and I cried too. She made
a welcome party for us. Well, leaving my friends was really sad. After a few
days I felt really empty without them. At first, I called my cousin and friends
on the phone. Now I call fewer people but I still miss them.
I remember
some people told my mother that it would be “sweet in the beginning and
bitter at the end”, but my mother said there was no way this would happen.
PROFILE 4 (continued)
Student from Cameroon
◊ Advice to another student: I’d just say that they should try to be close to their parents no matter
what! Don’t be afraid to ask them things. Ask them about your homework. Ask them about their day.
For teachers: It’s not really easy to stay without your parents because many things
can happen. When you live alone without parents, you are naïve about your life .
Sometimes you make bad decisions and sometimes you make bad friends. Some children have failure in education because they don’t feel support.
PROFILE 5
Student from Honduras
PROFILE 6
Student from China
◊ Even though I was just 4 when my parents
◊ When I was 5 or 6, my mom moved to Florida.
left, I remember saying “bye” and crying. I did-
I lived with my grandparents on the weekends
n’t know why though. After that, I lived with my
and holidays . I went to boarding schools during
aunt, cousins and my brother. I felt angry with
the week. Now I know the reason she left; my
my dad. He had a good job but he put our fam-
father died and she wanted a change. And she
ily in a bad economic situation because he had a
was thinking about my future. As a child, I did-
problem with alcohol. So they came to the U.S.
n’t have many memories of my mother. I didn’t
to make more money again. I felt bad without
have much feeling about that. The teachers at
my parents. I didn’t go to special school events
the boarding schools were really like my par-
because my parents weren’t there to go with
ents. My schools taught me to be independent
me. By the time I was 12, I was getting into a
and strong. Then my mom decided that I should
lot of trouble, so I asked my parents to bring me
come to the U.S. She applied for a green card;
over. They agreed.
◊ When I first met them it
was weird.
However love is gained by being there
for someone. If I were a parent, I
wouldn’t leave my child.
I didn’t feel
anything. I knew they were my parents but until then I had done everything by myself, like
read, write…Also I met my new little brothers
for the first time. Plus, I was really sad to leave
my aunt in Honduras. Later I even sent her
money when I worked. I still talk to her every
week. Even now my mom and dad know that I
don’t feel like our family is normal. But, I thank
my parents for giving birth to me.
we waited for that. I was
fourteen. By then my Chinese was good enough,
and she thought I learned about Chinese culture. Well, I felt like she was selfish. I didn’t
want to come here. I couldn’t decide anything.
I just had to do it. I cried a little... I was not
really scared but I did not want to leave.
◊ When I got here my mom was with my stepfather. I didn’t know him. It was really uncomfortable. I was scared. We went to my parents’
restaurant. I felt like I didn’t know my mom. I
felt like I wasn’t really her daughter. (Cont. p. 4)
Advice to a teacher: Try to talk to the students and understand them. My life has
been really hard—talking about it makes me feel good. Knowing that someone understands you makes you feel better.
PROFILE 6 (continued)
Student from China
Well now our relationship is better. We know each other a lot. I talk with my stepdad. However I
talk mostly to my mom, this keeps the family in peace.
My advice to others: Time will fix anything… Don’t get too close with your parents. Be
strong and do not depend on your parents. Like don’t cry for material things like an
Ipod, etc. I know some girls like that, who get upset because they want things...
PROFILE 7
Student from El Salvador
◊ I was like 4 when my mom left, and my dad left when I was three. I lived with my grandparents. My
parents left because we didn’t have that much money and they wanted better jobs. When they left, I
really didn’t care. I called my grandma Mom and my grandfather Dad. Eventually my mom decided I
should come here. At first when she asked me, I said no. Then she said she wouldn’t send me money
anymore if I didn’t come. That was when I was twelve. I was so mad because I had a good life. I didn’t want to leave my friends, grandparents and cousins.
◊ When I got here, I didn’t feel anything. My mom started to cry. I remember the first thing she said:
“Are you hungry?” And she made some food. My little brothers were asking me many questions. It
took awhile for me to care about them…but now I always play with my little brothers. Now, I don’t
really talk with my mom that much. Actually something bad happened. I was arguing with my stepfather because he tries to be my dad. So I punched him. I don’t talk to him now. I think he has been
scared to tell me what to do after that. I still talk with my grandparents about once a month. And my
cousins came here not too long ago. So I am happy because we are like brothers.
My advice to someone in my shoes: If you have problems just try not to
say anything…Be patient, and you will start loving your family.
The voices of our students here at Quince Orchard sound familiar...with those
of immigrant characters in popular fiction. By reading and talking more about
reunification, we can understand and support our students’ new beginnings.
For contributions, ideas and feedback, please contact Elizabeth Fuhrman (ESOL).
PAW issues are available online at http://esol.qohs.org/PAW/PAW.htm.
A Quince Orchard High School ESOL Department Publication