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Graduation Speech: Challenges Faced By Immigrants In America

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It has been two months since my arrival in America. I am happy, but miss the family a lot. You guys would love it here. I know you all don’t have much money back home, and I think about that every day. I want you all to have everything our family needs and more; that’s why I am in America today. It was a struggle and a sacrifice to save the money for me to come to here, but I know it will be worth it because I will make more money than I was able to in Ireland, and will therefore have more for the family. What keeps me positive every day has been the memories of the wake that the family held for me before I left. I know we were preparing to never see each other again, but I will do everything I can to be able to save enough money to bring you …show more content…

Despite the racism and stereotyping associated with our culture, I was still able to find a job making decent money as a factory worker. Well honestly, I am paid next to nothing here, simply because I am Irish, and I am worried what will happen if I lose a hand or finger in the machine and can no longer work. The money is greater here than back home, but sometimes I feel like I want to go into a different, more dangerous profession to make as much money as possible to bring the family here. In Five Points, where I live, there are many signs posted in the windows of shops and businesses that say “NINA.” This means “No Irish Need Apply.” This is another factor is my thought process of entering that other, more dangerous occupation I mentioned earlier. I am stuck between risking getting hurt at the factory, but having money, and searching for a better job, but possibly not having enough money to save for you all. I feel guilty enough as it is buying clothes and food for myself because that is money that I could be sending back home. The job that I would take instead of my current one is bare-knuckle boxing. I know what you are thinking: “No way. That is too dangerous.” But I have been practicing with some guys in my tenement where I live, and I think I am ready to start doing it for real to make some serious money for us. The job pays so well, and while it is illegal, this is the best shot I have at bringing you all to America with me. If I could bring you and the children here with me, you could be a domestic, and make lots of money too as a maid. Then maybe we could move into a house together, instead of in this hell I live in right now. There are no bathrooms, I share it with twenty other people, and I have to live in shifts with the other guys. What I am trying to say is that things may not be beautiful or perfect right

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