Susana Prachi

Writers from the Crimson Times as well as students from other area high schools were invited by the Immigrant Learning Center in Malden to voice their stories and opinions on the benefits of immigration recently. Here are some of our entries.

I moved to the US from a little country called Bangladesh in late 2024. I don’t know if it was my naivete or ignorance, but I’d stupidly expected life in America to be exactly like what I saw on TV. Unsurprisingly, it’s not. It’s scary. There’s nothing more terrifying than having to relearn how to live. Yet even though I was terrified, confused and way out of my depth, the one aspect of America that calmed me was its many immigrant communities. 

In the city of Everett, immigrants are everywhere. I never really thought of how much I would appreciate this fact until I settled here. Before moving to the US, I was always afraid of being a stranger in my new home. But when I saw the people around me and heard their stories, I understood that foreign as I was, I wasn’t unwelcome. Looking back now, I can confidently say that being around so many people who came here to better their lives is the reason why I feel so at-ease where I am.

The little things I never thought I’d care for ended up being what I needed the most. Restaurants that serve international cuisine, grocery stores that sell Asian ingredients and butcher shops that offer Halal meat are among the many places I frequent that make me feel a little bit closer to home. And we’d have none of that if it weren’t for immigrants.

There were a lot of things I missed about Bangladesh when I first moved. That little period of time when I hadn’t started school or made any friends was unsettling, to say the least. During that quiet, cold month, I missed home more than anything. I missed my school, my house, my friends, my teachers and my relatives. I even missed the unforgiving heat. But worst of all, I missed being normal.

I still miss my friends, I still miss my family and yes, I still miss the almost unbearable weather. But I don’t miss being normal. I don’t have to. Because in school, in my neighbourhood, in the eyes of all the people around me, Mexican, Haitian and American alike—I am normal. 

I’ve been living here for just over a year now. I’ve made a lot of friends, some American, some Brazilian, and some Bangladeshi, like me. Learning about their unique traditions and cultural practices while being able to share mine with them has been one of the most liberating experiences for me. There is no ridicule in interest, really. Everyone is only so curious, so excited to learn about something new. Having the opportunity to share that interest with others has made me more respectful and open-minded. I like to believe everyone in Everett feels the same.

Personal sentiments aside, the benefits of immigration have been prevalent for centuries. A good part of the US economy itself is supported by immigrants. American classics like hotdogs, french fries and bacon were all either created by or brought to the US by immigrants. Some of the holidays celebrated here, like St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day, stemmed from foreign religious and cultural practices. Without the migration of people from different countries, some of the most integral aspects of America may not’ve existed today.

With the history of desperation and violence behind immigration, it’s impossible to expect everyone to welcome everyone without concern. Prejudice has existed for centuries now, and as unfortunate as it may be, it will probably exist for the centuries ahead. I can’t force anyone to accept anything, but I can try to change their minds. As an immigrant myself, living in a community full of foreigners, I feel like I have to do everything I can to represent us. My ultimate hope is that our contributions to society are seen for what they truly are—beneficial and entirely necessary for the general development of this country.