Immigrants come to the United States for a variety of reasons. Some migrate to enhance their ability to earn money, while others come with the goal of reunifying their families. Certain groups of people come seeking refuge, having fled turmoil and uncertainty in their homelands. The reasons immigrants come to this country are wide ranging, but all who come here face a transition that is nothing short of challenging. Cultural differences, language barriers, and pressure to assimilate, are just a few of the struggles immigrants face in an America that has become increasingly hostile to those who are different. The ability of immigrants to overcome these obstacles is paramount to their success and happiness in America. Because of this fact, I …show more content…
Exercise is seen as a key component to a healthy lifestyle. Team sports force people to abandon differences, and to work together towards a goal; the level of inclusion and togetherness seen in team athletics is hard to find anywhere else. However, I believe that sports and exercise can assist immigrants specifically by combatting health and risk factors faced by low income, immigrant children, by increasing immigrants’ social capitals and skill sets, and by helping immigrants to learn English and other nuances of American life. In this essay, I hope to expose these benefits, offer suggestions, and frame athletics as a practical instrument for attaining success and happiness in American life. As mentioned previously, exercise is seen as one of the cornerstones of a healthy life. A review of 86 scientific papers concerning exercise benefits in school age children, conducted by Janssen and Leblanc, found that children aged 15-17 “should accumulate an average of at least 60 minutes per day and up to several hours of at least moderate intensity physical activity”(Janssen and Leblanc, 1). In fact, even a more modest level of activity would be sufficient in battling health risks, such as …show more content…
The result of the blood tests revealed that these adults exhibited a “fast food diet pattern” (Hamer and Mishra, 495). Fast food is very high in sodium and fat, and people who follow the fast food diet pattern could face a handful of health related issues. It is a matter of cost: fast food is simply more affordable than healthy alternatives. Looking now at US Census Bureau data collected in 2010, in Immigrant America by Portes and Rumbaut, some immigrant groups, particularly those from Central and South America, have median household incomes below the US Average of $45,000 (Portes and Rumbaut, 134). Mexican immigrants had a poverty rate of 28%; Somali immigrants faced a poverty rate at a whopping 52%! These low income immigrant groups are especially at risk to have a “fast food diet pattern”. An article written on the “Migration Policy Institute” website did mention that Hispanic immigrants of the first generation are usually heavier on average than other children. This article by Van Hook, Kelly, and Baker attributes immigrant obesity on a whole to acculturalization, meaning, basically, getting used to living like an American. While this may be true, I still believe that income level is a solid predictor of health related issues. While a fast food
Humanity is ever so much more complicated than one could have ever imagined. Humans can thrive on change, but ultimately look for something to declare as home. In search of this home people travel long distances and risk everything they have. When an American contemplates the word immigrant, one imagines the countless people from Mexico crossing into our country or the refugees that hope to make this country their home. What eludes most of us, however, is the reality that most people were, at one point, immigrants to this country and that our forefathers came here exactly the same as refugees come today. What is brought to mind when I hear the word immigrant is hope and perseverance. I remember the countless people who have traveled here
In the article “The Health Toll of Immigration” by Sabrina Tavernise explains that immigrants of Hispanic heritage live longer than American born persons of Hispanic heritage. Many causes of this have been suspected such as smoking and drinking but ultimately it is the American diet of fast food that seems to be the reason for poor health (Tavernise 2013). Fast food was a luxury to some and to others it was a money saver. Fast food is fast and cheap making it an easy stop for many families on the run. The statistic is that “Hispanic immigrants live 2.9 years longer than American-born Hispanics” (Tavernise 2013). America’s fast food diet has also been moving into Mexico. When it comes to obesity “Hispanic adults are also 14 percent more likely to be obese…for
Millions of immigrants arrive in the land of the free and the home of the brave each year, but many are shocked when they witness the extreme culture differentiation and fallacies regarding our country. The shock that is forced upon arriving immigrants can range from the weather outside to the clothes on our bodies. These immigrants are not familiar with our language or ways of life. They arrive in the United States unaware of the changes that they must adapt to in order to fit in among our society. However, many immigrants don’t know where to turn for recourse. New immigrants can become familiar with American media, make a friend that can guide them, and/or attend a support group in order to adapt to the community and society of the United States of America.
Immigration is the bedrock on which the United States was founded, yet in most political conversations today it is regarded as a negative topic and for that reason discussing this topic is important. In the US the struggle to be an immigrant is harder than ever. Immigrants are expected to work hard for jobs that they are over qualified for because of a stereotype cast on the
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Increasing physical activity among youth is an essential component of the broad strategy needed to curb the obesity epidemic” (CITATION). The AAP goes on to encourage different forms of physical activity, whether it’s joining a sport, taking part in extracurricular activities or even participating in gym class and to start this routine from childhood. When experimenting to see the impact that sports and extracurriculars made on a person’s health, they stated, “Our findings supports previous research demonstrating sports were related to substantially lower risk of both overweight/obesity and obesity” (CITATION). While other factors play a big part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, childhood is a crucial point because that’s when the body is nurturing, which is why there should be more budgeting towards helping those who are unable to
Every year, a huge number of immigrants, legal and illegal, from around the globe, decided to come into the United States. These migrants have many different goals that they have in mind. Some enter the United States hoping for a better life and some are refugees escaping from persecution or civil wars that happened in their motherland. Large number of these individuals trust the United States as the best place to go.
America's children are not getting enough exercise, and the health risks due to obesity are becoming epidemic in nature. Even First Lady Michelle Obama is supporting an initiative to help children become more active and to provide for exercise (at least 30-60 minutes per day) in all schools. Even limited amounts of exercise can have great health benefits. When humans exercise, the brain produces chemicals that help enhance mood, limit cravings for sugars, and contribute to healthier joints, muscles, the heart, and kidneys. In turn, this translates into more productive work time, the ability to sleep better, increase memory, and reduce dependence on medications. Children are so vulnerable to this health risk that if it continues, over 60% of graduating seniors will be clinically obese. Written by a medical journalist, the book is designed for the lay reader but has a number of documented scholarly sources.
Many people wonder why immigrants come to America. Most immigrants come across border for freedom, others for money, but most of the time it’s for their religion. A lot of people run away and come to America because they want ‘Refuge’ AKA (Protection).
Immigration is both a domestic issue and global concern. It involves economics, politics, and culture. Unlike other current issues, it has been at the center of the American experience for hundreds of years (Tirman, John). Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from around the world, come to the United States. These immigrants have many different motivations as to why they leave their home country; but as currents events indicate, it is injustice, poverty, and violence in their own country that generally make people move to save themselves and to ensure a better future for their families. Many of these people believe the United States is the best place to go, because there is more freedom, protection, and benefits,
Living a good life as an immigrant in America is a big challenge. In fact, getting a reasonable life is not easy in many countries around the world, but as an immigrant in the United States that involves huge determinations. Thus, anyone who decides to move to another place or community should expect to face many challenges. Most of the time, an immigrant’s reason(s) for leaving their country is based on a hard life for some without figuring out that life in the USA might be harder as well as a better life for others who may have a good life in their motherland. Generally, they are all disappointed by what they encounter. Denis Hunt, a director of Multi-cultural Human Services, a Falls Church, Virginia-based organization that helps immigrants adjust to life in the United States, said “the issues immigrants face can be even more daunting. Most immigrant parents who arrive in new communities are faced with immediate challenges to their survival, including securing a job, finding a place to live, buying food, and enrolling their children in school" (“US immigrants face new challenges”). Despite this situation, it is conceivable for immigrants regardless their origin, to live a good life in America. However, it cannot happen merely by snapping their fingers; massive efforts are required, including working hard, learning English, resolving transportation issues, understanding of the culture, and getting
Immigration has existed around the world for centuries, decades, and included hundreds of cultures. Tired of poverty, a lack of opportunities, unequal treatment, political corruption, and lacking any choice, many decided to emigrate from their country of birth to seek new opportunities and a new and better life in another country, to settle a future for their families, to work hard and earn a place in life. As the nation of the opportunities, land of the dreams, and because of its foundation of a better, more equal world for all, the United States of America has been a point of hope for many of those people. A lot of nationals around the world have ended their research for a place to call home in the United States of America. By analyzing
Immigrant groups take refuge in America in hope of starting a better life for themselves and their ongoing generations. They take on the belief that upon coming to America, they will be presented by the riches and freedom granted by the “American Dream”. However, these opportunities are not easily achieved. Many immigrant families are challenged with the initial obstacles of having to adapt to the new languages and the customs of their environment. For example, without the basic knowledge of the standard English language, immigrants will not be able to apply for a majority of the jobs available. This puts immigrant parents at disadvantages because then they will not be able to provide the sufficient funds needed for allowing their children
“We define ourselves as a nation of immigrants. That’s who we are in our bones.” - President Barack Obama. As President Obama so bluntly stated, America as a whole is made of up immigrants. It makes our nation diverse and full of many different cultures. Immigrants, such as Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Madeline Albright, and my personal favorite, Lin Manuel-Miranda, are all immigrants who came to the United States. Although they were not born here, they sought-after new opportunities and had specific reasons for wanting to live in America. They have helped shape the American culture in their own individual ways. Immigration has been important part of our culture and heritage since the early 1900s. As of 2011, 12.5% of our population was made up of immigrants. However; they are still facing numerous issues with adapting and learning our language. They also have a difficult time finding work and learning in schools. The biggest challenge
America is largely made up of immigrants, and thus it is referred to by many as an immigrant’s nation. The rise in immigrants of the first generation and those of second or third generation is changing the demographics of the United States each day. Duncan and Stephen observe that about “a quarter of U.S. residents are either first-generation immigrants or the second-generation children of immigrants” (109). Most of these immigrants move to the country with the aim of achieving the American dream through career success. We would like to believe that the nation follows through with its American ideology that immigrants are welcomed with open arms, and they will have economic opportunities. However, the process of integration and assimilation of these immigrants has for long been a common debate question. The immigration waves into the United States have occurred in several waves over the past years. In the earlier years, most of the immigrants were from Europe and their assimilation was rather smooth. But, the recent wave of immigrants groups prevalently from Asia and Latin America do not face similar acceptance and open arms as their predecessors.
Do you get enough exercise? Are you sure about that? Or how about this, are you overweight, do you even know? Today’s adolescents don’t. In fact today’s adolescents face serious risk from their lack of activity. Today’s children are obese because they have developed some very bad habits related to healthy living and as result can suffer serious physical and psychological damage.