Writing Contest for
English Language Learners

2025 Writing Contest

In 2025, In the ESOL Classroom ran a writing contest for all English language learners (ELLs) in grades 7-12–regardless of their proficiency level, immigration status, or native language.

Students were invited to explore themes of identity, culture, language, heritage, and/or immigration by answering the question: “Who am I?”

Students could choose from two categories when submitting:

• Category 1: Judged on Content and Mechanics (English submission only)
• Category 2: Judged on Content Only (English submission and native language submission)

Below are the winning submissions from the 2025 Writing Contest for English Language Learners.

Category 1: 1st Place

My way to becoming who I am today 
Ester, Grade 9, Parma, Ohio

When I look at old pictures in my camera roll, my head is filled with endless  memories. My name is Ester, I’m 14 years old and I came to America two years ago. I  left my home country, Ukraine, when I was twelve. Today I’m in the United States,  learning English and many other new things. My life changed so much in the past two  years, but even though it became different, I will always know who I truly am.  

I was born and grew up in a Ukrainian village. That place will always be special  to me, I spent most of my life there. We had different traditions in my family, school  and church. Things like Ukrainian holidays, songs, and food always remind me of my  family and childhood friends. I did really well at school and had good grades, especially  in Ukrainian language and literature classes. I lived my happy life without even thinking  everything could change, but it happened. When I came to America I literally had to  start my life over. I had to go to a new school, find new friends, learn with people who  are completely different from me and use the language I’ve never spoken. 

Learning a new language was the hardest part for me. I didn’t really understand anything at school and felt different from everyone else. But I never failed my classes,  because I was actually trying my best. My accent was so terrible that sometimes people  didn’t even understand what I was saying. So, I had no choice but to start learning  English. I was trying, and eventually started getting better every day. Some of my  Ukrainian friends are still embarrassed to speak in English because they worry about  what others will think or say. But fortunately, when I was learning English I didn’t care  about that. One thing that helped me was realizing that if I don’t start speaking now it  will only become harder for me. I also had no idea how long I’m going to stay in America, my entire life could be spent here. So I did my best in learning this new language, and it worked. Today, when I tell others how long I’ve been in the US they are impressed. 

When I see other ELL students having difficulties with speaking in English, I  remember myself two years ago. I would never make fun of their accent, because it  used to be the same way for me. I try helping them whenever I can and I know that  that’s what I should do. Some of my goals for the future are to learn even more  languages and help others with it. I learned a lot about myself lately, and today I can  say with confidence that I know who I am. I am a person who would go through a long  way to achieve something, even if it looks impossible. I have overcome many сhallenges  that were in my way, and I’m proud of myself for that. When I have a goal and  understand the responsibility behind it, I will сomplete it. I am a person who isn’t going  to stop just because of what other people think. Especially when it comes to learning  English. Today I encourage everyone to complete their goals, even if it’s going to be  hard. And it applies to everything in our lives, not only to learning a new language.  People can make fun of you, maybe it’s going to take a while. But your difficulties  don’t define who you are. Your traditions, beliefs, mindset, goals and achievements do.

Category 1: 2nd Place

Who am I?
Sofia, Grade 11, Beresford, South Dakota

There’s always been controversy on what an immigrant should look like, even on how much effort they put into learning the country’s language, culture and history. I’m inspired to be different and to prove that people wrong about dumb stereotypes Before I do that, let’s begin with the question “who am I?”. 

My name is Sofia, I’m 17, and I’m currently a junior in high school. I was born in Bogota, Colombia. 

In October of 2021 my family made the hard decision to immigrate to the U.S. I was very excited because I knew that the US was a country full of opportunities for the youth. Sadly, the U.S consultation in Colombia wasn’t offering applications for visas until 2027, so our only option was to illegally enter the U.S. 

I still remember the anxious feeling of crossing the border. The night before we officially walked to the U.S, me and my parents had to stay in the Coyote’s house, it felt like a movie, like a suspense movie. 

The coyote’s house was full of abandoned bags and toys, it felt wrong to see the belongings of people that had previously immigrated. 

The day we immigrated, we had to ride a van with 14 other people. Nobody talked, or even smiled. It made me feel sad and scared. Suddenly we had to run out of the van and start our journey in the dark jungle, where there were a lot of trees, animals, and weird looking plants. I could feel adrenaline. With those 14 people we had to work as a team, if somebody did something wrong it would affect the others. We walked for 3 hours in the hot weather, without water, and were exposed to dangerous animals, such as snakes. My dad almost stepped on one. 

At the end of the journey we had only 8 people left, one woman died and a group of 6 people decided to go on a different route and got lost. 

Immigration police came to rescue us and we spent around 2 days in the “freezer”, they let us out and took us to California in a bus. They gave my dad an ankle monitor which he had to wear until 2022. 

I thought the hard times were over, but little did I know it was just starting. When I first started school I realized that everything was completely different than Colombia, the schedules, the classes, lunch, people, language. I was terrified, and for solid 4 months I became a very shy and quiet person, the complete opposite of who I really am. I had to move to another town in South Dakota, it was Beresford.

Beresford welcomed me warmly, and I met my first ML teacher, Mrs. Paopao. She was really sweet, and was a great support to me in the hard times, thanks to her I learned to speak English fluently. She decided to move in 2024. 

I have to admit that for a very long time I struggled with the thought of not belonging. I’ve lived in the U.S for 5 years now, and I’ve done sports such as track, soccer, and now wrestling. I also became part of the National Honor Society. 

I’m very glad that I came to this country. Thanks to all the struggles that I faced I’ve become the person that I am today, a humble girl, with big goals, and a mindset of love for people that knows we all bleed the same red, that we struggle and deserve the same opportunity to live freely without pressure.

Category 1: 3rd Place

Stages in My Life
Danah, Grade 8, St. Louis, Missouri

Each person has their own stages in life. Sometimes difficulties are the beginning of the road to success. My name is Danah. I’m from Syria. I’m 13 years old, and I’m currently living on my third continent. Even though I’m so young, I have already had many stages in my life, but the most important stage was when I traveled to America. It was a different language, people, and places. Living in a new country is not easy. 

In 2012, I was born in Syria and stayed for only 8 months until the war forced my family to leave. My family decided to go to Jordan because a lot of our relatives were living there and it would be easier because they speak the same language. When we arrived at Jordan airport the officers told us there is a new law preventing Syrians from entering Jordan. This was our first obstacle. My family had two options: go to Egypt or go to Turkey. We decided to travel to Egypt because it’s an Arabic speaking country. Egypt was beautiful and I got to visit the pyramids. My family stayed in Egypt for 10 years. I went to school, and I made a lot of friends. 

In 2016, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) told my dad that we had to make another decision whether we wanted to travel to America or stay in Egypt. My family decided and they told them, “Yes we want to live in America.” I was asking my dad when and where we’re going to live? They told us to wait for an appointment. Two days later, they told us our family would have to do an interview appointment. After the first interview took place, it took

seven more years to leave Egypt. It took several years to move to America because we had to have an appointment with IOM (International Organization for Migration). The IOM tested us, and told us to wait for the test results. My family went to a couple interviews with the IOM so they could take pictures, fingerprints, and get our information. 

After a while, they gave us an appointment to meet an American officer. It was like a test for my family. The IOM agreed my family should go to America, and after one year and five months, in 2023 we went for a medical examination. 

The travel date was set, and I was packing my things. I was saying goodbye to my friends in Egypt, and I felt sad because I will miss them. While I was on the plane, I kept remembering every moment I lived in Egypt and I remember thinking, “I don’t know if I can do this.” 

Two months later, it started snowing, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen snow. After a while, I started to go to school and I started to learn English. One year later, my English level got better, and I made new friends. I was trying to improve myself. This year, I continue to learn English, but now I can understand people and talk to them. I was and still am a fighter. 

In conclusion, people can travel to different countries and learn new languages, and these experiences have provided me with new opportunities. At first, when I went to school it was difficult, but I tried to improve myself with English everyday. To achieve your goal, you must rely on yourself and exploit your strength. Syria was liberated in 2024.

Category 1: Honorable Mention

Beginning of New Life
Marah, Grade 11, St. Louis, Missouri

Moving to a new country to start a new life is not easy. Most people who move to a new country see different people, different customs, different traditions, and different languages. That’s what I faced when I moved to a new country. Some countries have similar languages and traditions that will make immigrants adapt in a different environment and new life, but other countries have different cultures. My story began when my family was forced to leave Syria. 

My name is Marah. I’m 16 years old. I’m from Syria. I left Syria when I was 4 years old. There was a war in Homs, the same city I was living in. It was dangerous to stay there, so we had to leave and that was really hard. There was a curfew imposed and nobody could get out of their houses after 5pm. My family decided to travel to Jordan because my relatives were there and that would be the easiest option. At the end of February 2013, we arrived in Jordan. When we arrived at Jordan’s airport the police told us that Syrian people cannot enter Jordan, so they gave us two choices for travel: Turkey or Egypt. My parents chose Egypt because they speak the same language. 

On March 1st, we arrived in Egypt, and we found an apartment to live in. After 3 years, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) called my dad and they said, “Do you want to travel to America?” He said yes. I was so happy. After a few days, they called my dad again for the first meeting because they wanted to meet my family. After 3 months, we went to the second meeting. It was for taking pictures of the family and fingerprinting. The third meeting was in 2022 it was called the Jury Interview.

In August 2023, they called my dad for a medical examination before traveling to America. At that moment, I felt we were so close to traveling and I was so sad because I’ll miss my friends, my school, and everything in that country. I grew up there so I feel Egypt is my home. Then the IOM (International Organization for Migration) told us we would have a meeting. At that meeting, they told us when we would be traveling to America. That was so sad for me because that day I knew exactly when I would leave Egypt and my friends. They told us you’ll travel to New York then to Vermont. That gave my family only one week to prepare. When we arrived in New York, they said they would change the state from Vermont to Missouri. I was so excited to see the new state. 

When I arrived here, it was so different for me because of the different languages, different houses, and different culture. When I went to my school in America, I was afraid but excited to see my new school. The teachers were so kind and I started learning English. I saw my classes and my art class was my favorite because drawing is one of my hobbies. I am always pushing myself to get good grades, and develop my skills. 

In conclusion, everything has been hard for me, but I believe that I’ll succeed and achieve all my dreams. This is not the end of my dreams, I’ll keep going and I’ll always do my best because small steps every day lead to big changes. On December 8, 2024, the regime in Syria had fallen, and Syria became free.

Category 2: 1st Place

“I am the mix between a soft song and a roaring engine”
Mariana, Grade 12, Waller, Texas

Who am I? I wonder more than I’d like, because I’m still discovering myself. I’m a mixture of what others see and who I really am inside. On the outside, I may appear calm, but deep down, I’m full of thoughts, emotions, and dreams that sometimes contradict each other. I’m the kind of person who keeps too much to myself, but feels intensely. 

People believe I live sadly, because I don’t smile as much or talk as much. But the truth is, I’m comfortable with myself. I don’t need to constantly pretend to be happy to feel good. I enjoy being introverted and losing myself in simple things like a song or a book. I struggle with changes, even though I know they always bring something new. When I moved, I felt like everything was moving too fast, as if I’d lost control. But over time, I’ve understood that sometimes, the curves in the road are the ones that teach you the most. 

That’s when I found my refuges: music and reading. Reading calms me when my mind becomes noisy. It helps me forget my fears and understand them. In every story, I find pieces of myself: characters who doubt, struggle, dream of simple things. Music, on the other hand, connects me to the present. When I listen to or sing songs, especially those by 5SOS, everything stops. Each lyric becomes a part of me, as if someone else were saying something I can’t explain. 

And then there’s Formula 1. What started as a curiosity became a part of my life thanks to Checo Pérez. He taught me that even when the road is difficult, the important thing is not to give up. “Never give up” became a phrase that always accompanies me. Sometimes I feel like my life is like a race: full of unexpected turns, sudden brakes, and moments when I want to accelerate without looking back. But I keep going, with the engine running, trusting that every lap has its reason.

I dream of many things, but what I most desire is to live experiences that make me feel alive. I want to travel and see places that seem like they came out of Harry Potter or Game of Thrones, walk along streets that tell stories, and treasure moments that remind me why it’s worth moving forward. I also want to hear a 5SOS song live or feel the excitement of a Formula 1 race, and be able to say I was there, living my dream. I don’t seek luxuries or grand stages, just real moments that fill my soul. 

When I think about my future, I don’t imagine something perfect, but sincere. I see myself doing something I’m passionate about: maybe teaching, helping others, or creating something of my own. I want a life of peace, laughter, and the right people by my side. 

Sometimes I think I have my own Marauder’s Map, trying to uncover the parts of myself I don’t yet know. I don’t have a magic wand that will fix everything, but I have the courage to keep trying. Like a Muggle who found her magic in the most unexpected places, I keep running my race—one that isn’t about winning, but about enduring. 

Mariana is a song still being written, an engine that never stops revving, that lives among melodies, pages, and curves, and that continues turning on the track of her life with a burning heart and the hope that, in the end, it will all be worth it.

“Soy la mezcla entre una canción suave y un motor encendido” 

¿Quién soy yo? Me lo pregunto más de lo que quisiera, porque todavía me estoy descubriendo. Soy una mezcla entre lo que los demás ven y lo que realmente soy por dentro. Por fuera puedo parecer tranquila, pero por dentro estoy llena de pensamientos, emociones y sueños que a veces se contradicen. Soy esa clase de persona que guarda demasiado, pero que siente intensamente. 

Las personas creen que vivo triste,porque no sonrío tanto o no hablo demasiado. Pero la verdad es que estoy cómoda conmigo misma. No necesito aparentar alegría constante para estar bien. Disfruto de ser introvertida y de perderme en cosas simples como una canción o un libro. Me cuesta adaptarme a los cambios, aunque sé que siempre traen algo nuevo. Cuando me mudé, sentí que todo se movía demasiado rápido, como si hubiera perdido el control. Pero con el tiempo entendí que, a veces, las curvas del camino son las que más te enseñan. 

Fue entonces cuando encontré mis refugios: la música y la lectura. Leer me calma cuando mi mente se vuelve ruidosa. Me ayuda a olvidar mis miedos y a entenderlos. En cada historia encuentro pedacitos de mí: personajes que dudan, luchan, sueñan con cosas simples. La música, en cambio, me conecta con el presente. Cuando escucho o canto canciones especialmente de 5SOS todo se detiene. Cada letra se vuelve una parte de mí, como si alguien más dijera lo que yo no sé explicar. 

Y luego está la Fórmula 1. Lo que empezó como curiosidad se volvió parte de mi vida gracias a Checo Pérez. Él me enseñó que incluso cuando el camino es complicado, lo importante es no rendirse. “Nunca te rindas” se convirtió en una frase que me acompaña siempre. A veces siento que mi vida es como una carrera: llena de giros inesperados, frenos bruscos y momentos en los que quiero acelerar sin mirar atrás. Pero sigo ahí, con el motor encendido, confiando en que cada vuelta tiene su razón. 

Sueño con muchas cosas, pero lo que más deseo es vivir experiencias que me hagan sentir viva. Quiero viajar y conocer lugares que parecen salidos de Harry Potter o Game of Thrones, caminar por calles que cuenten historias, y guardar en mi memoria momentos que me recuerden por qué vale la pena seguir adelante. También quiero escuchar en vivo una canción de 5SOS o sentir la emoción de una carrera de Fórmula 1, y poder decir que estuve ahí, viviendo mi sueño. No busco lujos ni grandes escenarios, solo momentos reales que me llenen el alma. 

Cuando pienso en mi futuro, no imagino algo perfecto, sino algo sincero. Me veo haciendo algo que me apasione: tal vez enseñando, ayudando a otros o creando algo propio. Quiero una vida con paz, con risas y con la gente correcta a mi lado. 

En ocasiones creo que tengo mi propio Mapa del Merodeador, tratando de descubrir las partes de mí que todavía no conozco. No tengo una varita mágica que arregle todo, pero tengo el valor para seguir intentando. Como una muggle que encontró su magia en los lugares menos esperados, sigo corriendo mi carrera, una que no se trata de ganar, sino de resistir. 

Mariana es una canción que aún se escribe, un motor que no deja de acelerar, que vive entre melodías, páginas y curvas, y que sigue girando en la pista de su vida con el corazón encendido y la esperanza de que, al final, todo habrá valido la pena.

Category 2: 2nd Place

ROOTS OF LOVE
Yaneli, Grade 12, Trenton, New Jersey

Who am I? I’ve asked myself this question countless times. In my mind, I’m like a puzzle trying to fit together at every stage of life. Sometimes the pieces don’t fit, or maybe I don’t fit into them; sometimes, I get lost searching for the right way to continue, but still, I continue. Even when something doesn’t go right, when life seems to be falling apart, I put a smile on my face and keep moving forward. I try to learn from life because even in pain, there is beauty, strength, and hope. 

I am that teenager trying to maintain her values in a world that changes too quickly. I am someone who was born with a soul full of colors, traditions, and love for my homeland. I am someone who remembers the most valuable things he can about his country, his beloved Mexico: its landscapes, its people, and its laughter. And although I am no longer there now, I haven’t left my roots behind. I carry them with me, like an invisible flag that reminds me of who I am and where I come from. 

I am that young woman who, despite her fears, continues to believe in herself. Who continues to fight for her dreams, who lives between two worlds: one that gave birth to her and another that is teaching her how to start over. I try to make the most of every place I find myself, to keep moving forward, and not give up. 

I am my past and my future, a collection of emotions, memories, and decisions that have taught me that nothing is lost if the heart remembers, because distance doesn’t erase the love for my country; it only transforms it into nostalgia. I love my Mexico with my soul. I love it so much that it hurts. It hurts to have left it. It hurts to see how it slowly crumbles because of its own people. It hurts to watch the news and feel that the day I return, nothing will have changed. Despite that, I’m proud to know that my voice, my accent, and my culture live on inside me, even far from home.

I am that person who left to seek a better life, who left behind family, friends, and customs. I am that young woman who walks the streets, remembering her own, who mixes a bit of Spanish with English without ceasing to be herself, who looks at the sky and even though she’s in another country, feels like she’s still the same sun. 

I am that voice that sometimes trembles but keeps speaking. I am someone who searches for answers, I am that faith that tries not to give up; that keeps seeing how life beats. And although I don’t know exactly everything I am, I know that every day I get a little closer to what I want to be. Because being me isn’t about having everything clear, it’s about keeping moving forward. Even with fear, because I always carry a heart of love and hope.

RAÍCES DE AMOR

¿Quien soy? Esta pregunta me la he dicho infinidad de veces. En mi pensar yo soy como un rompecabezas que intenta unirse en cada etapa de la vida. A veces, las piezas no encajan o tal vez yo no encajo en ellas, a veces, me pierdo buscando la forma correcta para seguir, aún así, continúo . Incluso cuando algo no sale bien, cuando la vida parece romperse en pedazos, dibujo una sonrisa en mi rostro y sigo avanzando. Intento aprender de la vida porque incluso en el dolor hay belleza, fuerza y esperanza. 

Soy ese adolescente que intenta mantener sus valores en un mundo que cambie demasiado rápido. Soy alguien que nacio con el alma llena de colores, tradiciones y amor por mi tierra. Soy alguien que recuerda lo más valioso que puede de su país, su Mexico querido; sus paisajes, su gente y sus risas y aunque ahora no me encuentra ahí, no he dejado atrás mis raíces las llevo conmigo, como una bandera invisible que me recuerda quién soy y de dónde vengo. 

Soy esa mujer joven que pese a los miedos sigue creyendo en sí misma. Que sigue luchando por sus sueños, que vive entre dos mundos, uno que la vio nacer y otro que le está enseñando a empezar de nuevo. Intento sacar lo mejor de cada lugar en el que me encuentro, seguir adelante y no derrumbarme. 

Soy mi pasado y mi futuro un conjunto de emociones, recuerdos y decisiones que me han enseñado que nada se pierde si el corazón recuerda, porque la distancia no borra el amor de mi país sólo lo transforma en nostalgia. Amo a mi México, con el alma, lo amo tanto que me duele, me duele haberlo dejado, me duele ver cómo se derrumba poco a poco por su propia gente, me duele ver las noticias y sentir que el día que regrese nada habrá cambiado. A pesar de eso me enorgullece saber que mi voz, mi acento y mi cultura siguen vivos dentro de mí, incluso lejos de casa.

Soy ese alguien que se fue para buscar una mejor vida, que dejó atrás familia, amigos y costumbres. Soy esa joven que camina en las calles, recordando las suyas, que mezcla un poco de español con el inglés sin dejar de ser ella misma, que mira al cielo y aunque esté en otro país siente que sigue siendo el mismo sol. 

Soy esa voz que a veces tiembla pero sigue hablando. Soy alguien que busca respuestas, soy esa fe que intenta no rendirse; que sigue viendo como la vida late. Y aunque no sé exactamente todo lo que soy; sé que cada día me acerco un poco más a lo que quiero ser. Porque ser yo no es tener todo claro, es seguir caminando. Aún con miedo, porque siempre llevo el corazón de amor y esperanza.

Category 2: 3rd Place

“JUST ME”
Scofield, Grade 11, Waller, Texas

“I am just a poor African who has no dreams or plans for the future” that is what the majority of students I meet think of me. Who am I, that is the question I ask myself at the beginning and end of each day. My mother thinks I am a very intelligent boy who will finish high school, go to university to continue his studies and will surely become an engineer or a doctor. My father thinks I am a very strong and courageous boy who after high school will join the army to protect this country. 

But I see myself more as an artist who has the gift of creating.because I am more gifted at doing artistic things (dancing, singing, drawing, painting…), than anything else. I have been dancing since I was 6 years old and since then I have never stopped. The other talents came to me over time and without even realizing it I knew how to do so many things without ever having had a teacher or coach. The only things that helped me in my artistic learning are applications and tutorials on social networks. 

For my parents, art is not a real job and never will be. They say that these are just hobbies and nothing else. But I would like to make a real career out of it and I know that I will succeed unless over time I change my mind and ambition because human beings are made for that. No one knows what their future holds and even by working hard we do not always often achieve our goals. 

Ultimately, I would say that we are all different, with our own dreams, but under the influence of others, we end up changing and becoming another person with the same goals as another. No one really knows who they are, because you can change your life at any time and become another person. 

Telling you about my life would be like releasing a film, telling you about my thoughts would be like writing a book, but the question I ask myself is who we really are and why, because each person has a great story to tell, but there’s just no one to listen. Sometimes people imagine my life and who I am only by my appearance. They say that they don’t need to talk to me or listen to me to really know who I am because for them the simple fact of being African can already describe a whole personality (poor, ugly, no intelligence…). Others think I’m just another student, but no one knows the story behind it. No one knows how I got here, so they spend their time telling stories about me, but the truth is, no one really knows me. 

So despite everything that people think positively or negatively about me, despite all the insults or compliments, despite all the stories they tell about me, and despite all these people who think that being African means being a slave to one’s own personality and the thoughts of others, despite everything I think I know who I am. 

I am SCOFIELD African and proud of it, intelligent, handsome, talented. I am that person who never gives up, who learns every day to know himself and who improves every day based on yesterday’s happiness to move forward today. I am me and one day I will surprise you all.

“JUST ME”

“Je ne suis qu’un pauvre afriquain qui n’a ni rêve ni projet d’ avenir”ça c’est ce que la majorité des eleve que je rencontre pence de moi .Qui suis-je, telle est la question que je me pose au début et à la fin de chaque journée. Ma mère pense que je suis un garçon très intelligent qui finira le lycée, partira à l’université continuer ses études et deviendra surement un ingénieur ou un médecin.Mon père quant à lui pense que je suis un garçon très fort et courageux qui après le lycée rejoindra l’armée pour protéger ce pays. 

Mais moi je me perçois plus comme un artiste qui a le dont de créer car je suis plus douée pour faire des choses artistiques (danser,chanter,dessiner,peindre…),que toute autre chose.Je danse depuis que j’ai 6 ans et depuis je n’ai jamais arrêté. Les autres talents me sont venues au fil du temps et sans même m’en apercevoir je savais faire tellement de choses sans jamais avoir eu de professeur ou de coach.Les seules choses qui m’ont aidé dans mon apprentissage artistique sont des applications et des tutoriels sur les réseaux sociaux. 

Mes parents pour eux l’art n’est pas un vrai métier et ne le sera jamais.Ils se disent que ce ne sont que des passe-temps et rien d’autre. Mais moi j’aimerais en faire une vrais carrière et je sais que je vais y arriver a mois qu’ au fil du temps je change d’avis et d’ambition car l’être humain es fait pour ça .Personne ne sait de quoi est fait son futur et même en travaillant dur nous n’atenion pas toujour souvent nos objectif. 

En fin de compte, je dirais que nous sommes tous différents, avec nos propres rêves, mais que sous l’influence des autres, nous finissons par changer et devenir une autre personne avec les mêmes objectifs qu’une autre.Personne ne sait vraiment qui il est, car on peut changer de vie à tout moment et devenir une autre personne.

Vous raconter ma vie serait sortir un film, vous raconter mes pensées serait écrire un livre mais la question que je me pose c’est qui sommes nous réellement et pourquoi car chaque personne a une grande histoire à raconter mais cest juste quil ya personne pour lecouter. 

Parfois les gens m’imagine une vie et qui je suis seulement par mon physique.Ils se disent quils nont pas besoin de me parler ou de mecouter pour savoir réellement qui je suis car pour eux le seul fait d’être africains peut déjà décrire toute une personnalité(pauvre,moche,pas d’intelligence…). 

Les autres pensent que je ne suis qu’un élève parmi tant d’autres mais personne ne connaît l’histoire qui se cache derrière.Personne ne sait comment es que ji suis arriver jusque la donc ils passent leur temps à se raconter des histoires sur mois mais la vérité est que personne ne me connait réellement. 

Alors malgré tout ce que les gens pensent positivement ou négativement de moi,malgré tout les injures ou les compliment,malgré tout les histoires qu’ils racontent sur moi,et malgré tout ces gens là qui pense qu’être africain c’est être esclave de sa propre personnalité et des pensées des autres,malgré tout je pense savoir qui je suis . 

Je suis SCOFIELD afriquain et fier de l’être, intelligent,beau,talentueux. Je suis cette personne là qui n’abandonne jamais, qui apprend tous les jours a ce connaitre et qui sameliore chaque jour en se basant sur les heureux d’hier pour avancer aujourd’hui. Je suis moi et un jour je vais tous vous surprendre.

Category 2: Honorable Mention 1

A Story In Motion
Djenabou, Grade 11, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania

Most of the time, we’re told that the future belongs to those who get up early. I believe it belongs especially to those who get up every time they fall. When I think about it, I tell myself that if I were asked to describe myself in one word, I wouldn’t be able to answer immediately because I am this mixture of a little bit of yesterday, a little bit of today, and perhaps a lot of tomorrow. Every day I learn, I grow, and I try to discover who I want to become. Because every moment adds a new step within me, but, in any case, I can already say what I know about myself, what I feel, what life has taught me so far, and what I dream of for the future. 

My name is Djenabou, and if I had to answer the question “Who am I?”, I would say that I am a story in motion… The “why?”, we’ll find out later. I was born in Guinea, more precisely in Labé, a small town in West Africa, where the sun sets behind a land where dreams don’t always come true. There, I learned about Fulani culture and what my roots were. Knowing nothing of what is possible or not, I grew up with the mindset that nothing is impossible when you have the will to succeed. One day I left my homeland for Senegal, which is also a West African country. I crossed the ocean and then Morocco to come to the United States. A world very different from the one I expected, where every word, every silence taught me something. Learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, seeing new faces—this is the life I am living right now. It wasn’t easy, but in every way, I learned a lesson from every mistake. 

Apart from this very specific goal that I came with, which is to continue my studies and finally become a doctor; there is next to me this young girl who is trying her best to understand a language. At first, at school, I didn’t understand anything the teachers were saying. Sometimes I was afraid to speak, afraid of saying the wrong word or being misunderstood. Little by little I learned basic words, met kind people, and above all, I understood that I could do better. 

So, who am I ?? I think I’ll take quite a while to think about it before writing a word, a sentence, or a paragraph like I’m doing right now… Because in a general context, one is not born oneself, one becomes oneself. So, I am this mix of culture and roots. Sometimes I feel between two worlds; that is, the one where I was born and the one where I must grow up now. I want to become a surgeon because I love the idea of easing pain, helping others, and above all, saving lives. Djenabou is me, a 17-year-old girl from a land far from the United States. I don’t yet know where life will take me, but the essential thing is that I know where I come from; and that is more than enough to guide me, and perhaps that, deep down, is the most beautiful answer to “Who am I?”.

Une histoire en mouvement 

La plupart du temps, on nous dit que l’avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt. Moi je crois qu’il appartient surtout à ceux qui se lèvent à chaque fois qu’ils tombent. Quand j’y pense ça ne reste qu’un tout petit peu; je me dis que si on me demande de me décrire en un mot, je ne saurai pas répondre immédiatement car je suis ce mélange un peu d’hier, un peu d’aujourd’hui et peut être beaucoup de demain 

Chaque jour j’apprends , je grandis , et j’essaye de découvrir qui je veux devenir. Car chaque instant y’a une nouvelle étape qui s’ajoute en moi mais de toutes les façons je peux déjà dire ce que je sais de moi, ce que je ressens, ce que la vie m’a appris jusque là et ce que je rêve pour l’avenir 

Moi c’est Djenabou, et si je devais répondre à la question de « Qui je suis ? », je dirai que je suis une histoire en mouvement…. Le « pourquoi » ? On le saura plus tard. je suis née en Guinée plus précisément à Labé, petite terre de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, là où le soleil se couche derrière une terre où les rêves ne se réalisent pas toujours. Là-bas on m’a appris la culture peulh, et quelles étaient mes racines. Ne sachant rien de tout qui est possible ou non, j’ai grandi avec une mentalité en tête que rien n’était impossible quand on a la volonté d’y arriver. 

Un jour j’ai quitté ma terre pour le Sénégal, qui, aussi est un pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. J’ai traversé l’océan puis le Maroc pour venir aux États Unis. Un monde qui est très différent de celui que je pensais trouvé, où chaque mot, chaque silence m’a appris quelque chose . Apprendre une nouvelle langue, s’adapter à une nouvelle culture, voir des nouvelles figures, c’est la vie que je suis en train de vivre à l’instant. 

Ce qui n‘a pas été facile mais de toutes les façons dans chaque erreur, j’ai appris une leçon . En dehors de cet objectif très précis que je suis venue avec, celui de poursuivre mes études et enfin finir Médecin; se trouve à côté cette jeune fille qui essaye de faire de son mieux pour comprendre une langue. 

Au début, à l’école , je comprenais rien de ce que disaient les professeurs. Parfois, j’avais peur de parler, peur de mal dire un mot ou être mal compris 

Petit à petit j’ai appris des mots de bases, rencontré des gentilles personnes et surtout j’ai compris que je pouvais y arriver à faire mieux 

Alors who am I ?? 

Je pense que je mettrai un bon bout de temps à y réfléchir avant d’écrire un mot, une phrase, ou un paragraphe comme je suis en train de le faire à l‘instant… 

Car dans un contexte général on ne naît pas soi même, on le devient 

Alors, je suis ce mélange de culture et de racines. Parfois je me sens entre deux mondes; c’est -à -dire celui là où je suis née et celui là où je dois grandir maintenant. 

Je veux devenir chirurgienne parce que j’aime l’idée d’apaiser la douleur, de rendre service et surtout sauver des vies 

Djenabou c’est moi, jeune fille de 17 ans, venant d’une terre loin des États Unis Je ne sais pas encore où la vie me mènera mais l’essentiel est que je connais d’où je viens;et cela suffit largement pour me guider et c’est peut être ça, au fond, la plus belle réponse est « à qui je suis »

Category 2: Honorable Mention 2

Who am I?
Melanie, Grade 7, West Chicago, Illinois

Hello. I am a girl named Melanie and I am 12 years old. I am in 7th grade. I like to study a lot and help people. I am very intelligent. Today I talk to you about my family and my past things. 

Once upon a time there was a girl who lived in Mexico, Michoacán in the municipality of Queréndaro. She liked to play a lot with her friends they always went out in the afternoon to walk or with their bicycles. When they were passing, they found a little dog and his mom thrown. Next to it was an abandoned house and we took her to the house. The dogs started to walk and a man arrived and took them out of the little house, but that house was not his. When we looked he had killed 2 and another man killed his mom and 5 puppies. I felt bad because I got attached. 

So more ugly things happened. They said that they were killing people and I got scared but all the people said nothing happens for sure it is Ramiro the neighbor. Because he got drunk and we calmed down. The next day they said they had killed another. They called us in the morning and when me and my mom were sleeping, they said that there was a dead person in front of our house. We got scared and looked out the window. When we looked there he was hanging from the soccer goal. Until the neighbor threw holy water on him so he wouldn’t scare at night. 

3 days passed and they said that they had already killed three. When we checked again they were torn apart in a trash can. But from there nothing was heard until they said they were in the ranch after time passed and they said that they had taken someone. December arrived and I went to the beach with my aunt and my mom we went to Ixtapa. We spent 3 days there and 1 day was missing to go to Mexico. We went to the street to spend christmas with a friend of my mom. So the next day came we left the lady’s house and I told my mom a joke and a man told her you are very happy about what happened right and we said what happened and he said they took Fernando. That is my dad. I started crying because they took him and I don’t know what they did to him.

Until the days passed and it got uglier and they started to hear. That there was an asylum application and my mom put it in so we could come here to West Chicago. She put it in since january and it came out until november of 2024. I had a dentist appointment and my mom said if she could do it sooner. We took the bus from Zinapécuaro to Morelia. Morelia to Guanajuato. From there we took the plane to Ciudad Juárez, we stayed one night with the topics. We went to migration and they detained us all one day and one night. Until the next day it came out and they took us to a shelter. From there we took the flight to the airport and we arrived to my aunt’s house. We arrived in december of 2024. After that they enrolled me in my current middle school on december 10. When I was new, they bullied me because I didn’t know anything and I didn’t want to come to school anymore. But after, I had to come after january came closer, after february, and then my sister was born. Then, my sister’s birthday came and that was a gift for me because I wanted a sister. After we waited a time and we already felt more safe but we heard that the migra was there and I got scared and I didn’t even want to go out to the street because I think that they are going to send me to mexico and I don’t want to go there because things are very ugly.

¿Quién soy? 

Hola. Soy una niña llamada Melanie y tengo 12 años. Voy en 7mo grado. Me gusta estudiar mucho y ayudar a la gente. Soy muy inteligente. Hoy les hablo de mi familia y de mis cosas pasadas. 

Había una vez una niña que vivía en México, Michoacán en el municipio de Queréndaro. Le gustaba jugar mucho con sus amigos siempre salían por la tarde a caminar o con sus bicicletas. Cuando iban pasando, se encontraron a un perrito y su mamá tirados. Al lado estaba una casa abandonada y la llevamos a la casa. Los perros empezaron a caminar y llegó un señor y los sacó de la casita, pero esa casa no era de él. Cuando miramos había matado 2 y otro señor mató a su mamá y a 5 perritos. Yo me sentí mal porque me encariñe. 

Así que pasaron más cosas feas. Dijeron que estaban matando gente y yo me espanté pero toda la gente dijo no pasa nada de seguro es Ramiro el vecino. Porque se puso pedo y nosotras nos calmamos. Al otro día dijeron que habían matado a otro. Nos llamaron en la mañana y cuando yo y mi mamá estábamos dormidas, dijeron que había un muerto en frente de nuestra casa. Nosotras nos espantamos y miramos por la ventana. Cuando miramos ahí estaba uno colgado de la portería de fútbol. Hasta que la vecina le echó agua bendita para que no espantara en la noche. 

Pasaron 3 días y dijeron que ya habían matado a tres. Cuando nos fijamos otra vez estaban despedazados en un bote de basura. Pero desde allí no se escuchó nada hasta que dijeron que andaban en el rancho después pasa el rato y dijeron que se habían llevado a alguien. Llegó diciembre y yo me fui a la playa con mi tia y mi mama fuimos a Ixtapa. Pasamos 3 días allí y faltaba 1 día para ir nos a México. Fuimos a la calle a pasar la navidad con una amiga de mi mama. Así que llegó el otro día salimos de la casa de la señora y yo le dije un chiste a mi mama y un señor le dijo estás muy feliz de lo que paso verdad y nosotras dijimos que paso y dijo se llevaron a Fernando. O sea mi papá. Yo me puse a chillar porque se lo llevaron y yo no se que le hicieron. 

Hasta que pasaron los días y se puso más feo y se empezaron a escuchar. Que había una aplicación del asilo y mi mamá la metió para venirnos para acá a West Chicago. La metió desde enero y le salió hasta noviembre de 2024. Yo tenía una cita en el dentista y mi mama dijo que si la podía hacer más pronto. Tomamos el autobús de Zinapécuaro a Morelia. Morelia a Guanajuato. De allí agarramos el avión a Ciudad Juárez, nos quedamos una noche con los tópicos. Fuimos a migración y nos detuvieron todo un día y una noche. Hasta el otro día salió y nos llevaron a un refugio. De allí agarramos el vuelo al aeropuerto y llegamos a la casa de mi tía. Llegamos en diciembre de 2024. Después me escribieron a la escuela Middle School el 10 de diciembre. Cuando era nueva, a mi me hicieron bullying porque no sabía nada y ya no quise venir a la escuela. Pero después, tenía que venir después se acercó enero, después febrero, y después nació mi hermana. Luego, mi hermana cumple y ese fue un regalo para mi porque quería una hermana. Después esperamos un tiempo y ya nos sentíamos más seguras pero escuchamos que estaba la migra y yo me espante y no quería ni salir de la calle porque pienso que me van a mandar para méxico y yo no quiero ir para ya porque las cosas están muy feas.

Category 2: Honorable Mention 3

My Story
Joel, Grade 12, Old Town, Maine

My name is Joel. I was born in north-central Venezuela, specifically in Maracay, Aragua state. When I was 10 years old, I had to leave Venezuela, leaving my friends and family behind. It was something I think is difficult for a child my age. We moved to Ecuador to look for a better future for me. 

Two years passed, and things didn’t go as my mom and dad had planned. We moved to Peru, and once again I had to leave friends behind. It was difficult for me because find it hard to make friends. Sometimes people exclude me from things because I’m not from their country. We arrived in Peru, one of my favorite countries, because I experienced so much there, and my longest romantic relationship was there. 

And although at first it was difficult for me to make new friends, I was able to adapt faster than normal. 

Those who know me usually know that I’m not one for parties or going out; I actually prefer to stay home sleeping or playing video games. 

Everything was going well until the beginning of last year, specifically on September 16th, when my parents told me we would be looking for a better future in the United States. I already knew that, just like in Ecuador, it was going to hurt to leave my friends and my girlfriend—well, ex-girlfriend. We arrived in the United States on September 17th, and to this day I haven’t gotten used to it. Here at school, there are people who exclude me, and it feels awful, honestly, knowing that they won’t let you play because you’re not from there. It’s a bad feeling, but well, I’ve tried to get used to the situation since I understand that there are many people who don’t like me, and it’s valid to have that opinion of me. Since they don’t know me, maybe when they do, they’ll like me better, but only time will tell. I’ve been through a lot to get where I am. I would tell my past self that there are many bad people, but to be strong and not to worry because even if everything doesn’t go as planned, you have to keep going and embrace the small moments of happiness, since you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

Mi historia

Yo me llamo joel naci el centro norte de venezuela específicamente en maracay estado aragua a los 10 años me tocó irme de venezuela dejando a mis amigos y familiares. Y fue algo que creo que 1 niño de mi edad es difícil, nos mudamos a Ecuador para buscar un mejor futuro para mi. 

Pasaron 2 años, de estar hay y no todo salió como lo pensó mi mama y mi papá y nos mudamos a Perú y nuevamente me toco, dejar amistades y fue algo difícil para mi ya que se me complica hacer amistades. Ya que a veces la gente me excluye de cosas por no ser de ese país llegamos a Perú unos de mis países favoritos, ya que pase muchas cosas mi relación amorosa más larga fue de allí. 

Y aunque al principio se me hizo difícil hacer nuevas amistades, me pude adaptar más rápido de lo normal. 

Normalmente los que me conocen saben que no soy de ir a fiesta, ni de salir, en realidad soy más de quedarme en mi casa durmiendo o jugando videojuegos. Todo iba bien hasta principios del año pasado específicamente el 16 de septiembre mis papas me dijeron que buscaríamos un mejor futuro en los Estados Unidos, ya sabía que igual a Ecuador me iba a doler dejar mis amistades y mi novia bueno ex novia llegamos a estados unido el 17 de septiembre, y hasta el dia de hoy no me e acostumbrado, aquí en la escuela hay personas que me excluyen y se siente feo la verdad saber que no te deja jugar por no ser de hay es algo feo pero bueno me e tratado de acostumbrar, a la situación ya que entendí que hay mucha gente la cual no le caigo bien, es válido tener esa expresión de mi. Ya que no me conocen tal vez cuando me conozcan, les pueda caer mejor pero eso ya lo va a determinar el tiempo. E pasado por mucho para llegar a donde estoy yo le diria a mi yo del pasado que hay mucha gente mala, pero es fuerte y que no se preocupe ya que a pesar de que todo no te salga como tu quieres, tienes que seguir adelante y que abrieses los pequeños momentos de felicidad, ya que no sabe lo que va a pasar el dia de mañana. 

Category 2: Honorable Mention 4

Who am I?
Victoria, Grade 8, West Chicago, Illinois

I am Victoria. I was born in Venezuela in a state called Puerto Ordaz. I have colombian roots, I was born on may 21 of 2012, and I am the older sister of of two siblings. When I was little, I lived in some apartments, there I lived until my 7 years for which I don’t remember almost anything, but it was because my parents went to Panamá. I was 5 or 6 years old, I don’t remember very well while I was in Venezuela with my grandparents. 

What I do remember is that I left Venezuela with my aunt and I arrived to Panamá. There were my mom and my dad. At the beginning I lived with my mom, after my grandparents and my brother came, but my mom didn’t last so much time there because they went to the U.S, for which I had to stay with my dad and my grandma. I lived for 4 years there. After my grandpa and my mom left, I stayed in Panamá. I went to school and did all types of things. Then my mom told my grandma and my brother that we should go to Mexico and since we had Colombian passport we could travel a little easier. 

We went and traveled to Cancún. After Cancún we went to the city of Mexico and after to Mexicali where it was that we crossed the border. Me along with my brother and my grandma crossed it with a coyote. At the border we had to wait until 10 in the morning for them to come for us and after they took us to migration, we did everything we needed to do, since I came with my grandma they didn’t let me pass with her, only with my brother because of some things about some papers. after they separated me from my grandma and I stayed in a place with aluminum “blankets”, 2 A.M. arrived and they told us that we were leaving, meaning that we already had to “go” to where our mom was, we got ready and we got on a small migration bus. I remember that we lasted like 9 hours until arriving to a place that was a school but while it was a school it was also like a building. There I arrived and my brother was calm, but I was very scared since I didn’t know what that place was, I wanted to know about my parents, how they were and all that, they told me that if I wanted to go to an office me with my brother.

¿Quién soy? 

Soy Victoria. Nací en Venezuela en un estado llamado Puerto Ordaz. Tengo raíces colombianas, nací el 21 de mayo de 2012, y soy la hermana mayor de de dos hermanos. Cuando era pequeña, vivía en unos apartamentos, ahí viví hasta mis 7 años por lo cual no me acuerdo casi de nada, pero era porque mis papás fueron para Panamá. Yo tenía 5 o 6 años, no me recuerdo muy bien mientras que yo estaba en Venezuela con mis abuelos. 

Lo que sí recuerdo es que me fui de Venezuela con mi tía y llegué a Panamá. Ahí estaban mi mamá y mi papá. Al principio vivía con mi mamá, después vinieron mis abuelos y mi hermano, pero mi mamá no duró tanto tiempo allí porque se fueron para los U.S, por lo cual tuve que quedarme con mi papá y mi abuela. Viví por 4 años allí. Después de que mi abuelo y mi mamá se fueran, yo me quede en Panamá. Iba a la escuela y hacía todo tipo de cosas. Entonces mi mamá nos dijo a mi abuela y mi hermano que fuéramos a México y como teníamos pasaporte Colombiano podíamos viajar un poco más fácil. 

Fuimos y viajamos hasta Cancún. Después de Cancún fuimos a la ciudad de México y después a Mexicali donde fue que pasamos la frontera. Yo junto con mi hermano y mi abuela la pasamos con un coyote. En la frontera tuvimos que esperar hasta las 10 de la mañana a que fueran por nosotros y después nos llevaron hasta migración, hicimos todo lo que necesitábamos hacer, como venía con mi abuela no me dejaron pasar con ella, solo con mi hermano por unas cosas de unos papeles. después me separaron de mi abuela y me quede en un lugar con “sábanas” de aluminio, llegaron las 2 A.M. y nos dijeron que nos íbamos, osea que ya nos teníamos que “ir” a donde nuestra mamá, nos arreglamos y nos montamos en un bus chiquito de migración. Yo recuerdo que duramos como 9 horas hasta llegar a un lugar que era una escuela pero mientras que era una escuela también era como un edificio. Ahi llegue y mi hermano estaba tranquilo, pero yo estaba muy asustada ya que no sabia que era ese lugar, quería saber de mis padres, como estaban y todo eso, me dijeron que si quería ir a una oficina yo con mi hermano.