Where Do I Belong?

Every year, the USA receives over 1 million immigrants. But just how accepting are the locals of their new neighbours?

Many immigrants are those who are looking for opportunities whether it be a job, or simply an escape from the often oppressed, unhappy life they'd lived in their home country. 

The United States is seen globally as a place where people can find what they are looking for but, unfortunately, that is not always the case.

For most immigrants, there is a great struggle to fit in with their new surroundings. It is often the most difficult for children. Are they truly Americans? Or do they still associate themselves with the nation their parents were born in?

These children are the real concern when it comes to issues of identity and belonging - especially when it comes time for them to go to school. Many struggle to make friends, as they are shunned for having a ‘strange’ accent, or for even looking different to their classmates.

These issues in childhood can lead to even bigger issues of identity as an adult. Someone who may have been discriminated against as a child might develop self-esteem issues as they grow older. Often, they end up with a constant need to prove themselves, to show that they can be just as good as everyone else. They also tend to stick to the shadows, wanting to blend in as much as possible and, therefore, they never reach their full potential.

This leaves us with the question of what we can be doing to address this problem. What can be done to help these people feel comfortable in their new surroundings?