Immigrating to the United States: Should I Open my Suitcase ?

My experience of immigrating to the United States made me feel more energized when I’m anticipating a known result. In 2012, I earned VISA to the United States to visit my uncle and cousins whom I had not seen for years. However, after a couple of months, My family and I decided to stay in the United States after the crisis in my native country of Syria escalated. Applying for asylum and waiting for the results were very stressful. In addition, the fear of receiving the rejection letter made me feel discouraged to do my school work and make friends. I always asked myself, “what’s the point of working hard at school and making friends if I might get the rejection letter, pack my suitcase and leave everything I have here?” In other words, not knowing what was about to happen after I applied to asylum made me feel depressed, anxious, and unenergized to work hard at school.

When I received the acceptance letter, I became more energized to work hard and help my community of Maine as a thank you for accepting me in the United States. Both of my communities of Maine and Syria need doctors and by attending a medical school and becoming a doctor, I will be helping both of my communities. Knowing that succeeding at school would give me high grades to get accepted to a medical school makes me feel so energized to work hard. In other words, anticipating a known result makes me be more energized to organize my time, and study hard for my classes. By the end of my senior year at my high school, I was able to earn high grades and be ranked among the top ten percent of students. My success at high school brought me to Boston College so I study pre-medicine before I apply to a medical school.

Although the experience of immigrating to the United States made fear from the future and feel unenergized to work, I learned that it’s very important to always do my best and take advantage of everything I have whether if I’m anticipating a known results or not. I should do that because in real life I’m most likely not going to know what’s about to happen next.