A Different Perspective on Immigration

Today's blog post will be a departure from the normal focus on issues pertaining to high school student-athletes and coaches in order to take a unique look at a woman struggling to make her way in our community.

Recently it’s become a pleasure to make acquaintances with a young woman who has been a student in the English Language Learner (ELL) class I’ve been teaching at a local non-profit. 

She is definitely a Winner in the Game of Life.

So what makes somebody a winner? The answer, in part involves overcoming difficult, some would say impossible, situations in order to maximize one’s life potential.

Consider the following facts about this young woman…

She was brought to the United States from a Southeast Asian nation to be an older man’s wife while still a minor. This is, of course, a thinly veiled and all too common form of human trafficking, child prostitution, and modern-day slavery.

After a short period of time she bore a daughter to this man who subsequently fled with the baby leaving his young wife abandoned and without resources of any sort. Since she had no money to return to her country of origin, she decided to stay in Central Iowa and make the best of things.

In the many years since this betrayal she has not seen or heard anything from her former husband or her daughter. 

She is now in an abusive relationship with another man with whom she has had two children.

Despite offers from local and state agencies to help, her ambiguous immigration status makes her fearful that “Trump will deport her” so she is reluctant to engage in programs which might otherwise help her. Without proper documentation (no green card) and lacking social capital it is nearly impossible to find meaningful employment.

So what makes her a winner?

She smiles all the time. 

Her laughter is infectious. 

She lights up the room the moment she enters. 

She makes our class more fun. 

Everyone loves talking to her. 

Her written English is rough around the edges, but she has acquired signifiant oral language skills (without formal education) and is able to express herself in a sophisticated manner. 

She makes the time and gives the effort to get herself to class in order to continue upgrading her skills.

She is a great mom! She loves to talk about her children and her cooking abilities. 

She has experienced enough adversity to quit and become bitter. Instead she spreads joy and lives out hope daily.

She’s a winner!