My Immigrant Story on the 4th of July   

They grew up as neighborhood friends and even though life pushed them on to different paths, they were always a phone call away. After years of not seeing any progression in the workforce, my dad decided his new goal was to move to the United States.  

He joined the millions of immigrants in New York city who were just starting to become financially stable. He juggled two jobs and started focusing on strengthening his English skills by taking night classes. During this time, my mom had moved to Spain and had been working hard as a caregiver but never lost contact with my father. After years of saving up and having a long-distance relationship with my father, she decided that the U.S. was the best place to start a family, because of the endless educational and economic opportunities.       

In 1998, my dad obtained green card status and he immediately began preparing for citizenship.    

“I knew my American dream would not be complete until I became a U.S. citizen,” he has said.  

Making a home in the U.S.

My father’s hard work paid off as he became naturalized in 2002, the year I was born, ready to start a family in his new home country. A year later my parents got married in New York City.  

My mother has been a legal U.S. resident since 2004 and was naturalized in 2017. The main reason my mother hesitated with beginning the process was her English. She was a housekeeper and had worked in the same Spanish speaking household for many years. Her main concern was passing the civics and English exams.   

As a family we all encouraged her and promised to all help her prepare until she felt confident to take the exam. For many months the only thing that was played in the car was the 100 civics questions. My little brother Max and I would take turns explaining historical events and figures that could appear on the exam.   

One the day of the exam we all wished her good luck. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. My mom had not passed the English portion and she felt very discouraged.   

“When we started having a conversation about my application in English, I froze,” my mom told us.

Achieving the American Dream 

After days of reflecting on the exam day, my mom realized she was so close to achieving her goal and she was not going to give up.   

We all started having conversations in English with her and practiced going through all the sections of her application. When the day of her second tests arrived, my mom walked into the exam room with confidence and came out with a large smile. She became a citizen.  

Now my parents are proud owners of our home in Natick, Massachusetts. We spend our weekends on our deck cooking and sharing stories, new and old. I am a first-generation college student studying Computer Science and Economics at Wellesley College thanks to the sacrifices my parents made. I value my parents’ immigration story because it is what allowed my story to begin.    

How Immigration Inspired Me 

While researching internships for the summer I found One Percent for America and felt close to their mission of empowering immigrants across the country. As the daughter of Peruvian immigrants, I have witnessed and helped my parents take the path towards citizenship. I felt the call to work for OPA and give back to my community, because we understand first-hand the importance of reaching the American Dream. In the U.S. independence is more than just living a comfortable life, it is safety, progress, and the ability to be our true selves without fear of persecution.     

When we reflect on the earlier years, my parents’ decision of staying in the U.S. and becoming citizens never changes.    

“I would do it all over again if I had to. Becoming a citizen opened many doors not just for us but for my children's future. I wanted them to have the opportunity to gain a good education and progress in whatever field they decide to work in,” says my dad.  

“After years of working, we had finally reached a point where we could live more calmly. This is when I decided it was time to become a citizen of the place, I had been calling home for many years,” adds my mom.   

There is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for what my parents have done. Immigration has granted me the opportunity to become a well-rounded individual. It gave me the ability to speak fluently in English and Spanish, allowing me to explore other cultures and communicate with more people around the world. It gave me the chance to lead a life I want and reach for the goals I set for myself.   

I am proud of my parent’s immigrant story every day, but especially when celebrating Independence Day, and I will always find ways to give back to the immigrant community.   

Jaci Cotaquispe is OPA's summer 2023 intern and a Computer Science and Economics candidate at Wellesley College.