Crossing cultures to find ‘My America’
South Meck book describes students’ early days in a new school
Going to a new school is always
hard. When school is in a new country,
the difficulty increases exponentially.
That challenging journey across cultures
is the subject of “My America,” a book
of essays written last year by South
Mecklenburg High students that will be
used by the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte.
When Juan Parra, who is from
Ecuador, came to live in the U.S. four
years ago, he spoke very little English.
“My first day of school was 11 hours
and 15 minutes long. That day, things
didn’t go like I was expecting, but I
survived,” said Juan. “I can find the
humor in it now because I’ve learned
English, met nice people and graduated
high school at 16. I plan to go to college
to be a neurosurgeon.”
On his first day of school, he was
45 minutes early for his morning bus.
But once he got to school, he couldn’t
understand his schedule and was late
for his first class. He nearly left school
too early but was stopped by the
resource officer.
”He asked if I was trying to skip
school,” said Juan. “I didn’t understand
so I mumbled ‘me don’t English.’ He
took me to the library, explained the
schedule and gave me a pass for my
next class.”
At the end of the school day, Juan
went to the bus lot. He saw a fleet of 50 yellow buses and didn’t know his bus number. He missed the bus and
had to wait to be picked up.
Juan is one of 28 students contributing to a writing project led by Spanish teacher Nhora Gómez-Saxon.
The idea sprang from a partnership between the students in the language-immersion and English as a Second
Language programs. Students shared their experiences with one another during tutoring sessions. GómezSaxon wanted them to have a chance to write their stories.
Principal Maureen Furr thinks the whole school will benefit from the book.
“Our school climate is created by our students and supported by our staff,” said Furr. “Everyone has value.
We appreciate the differences, we don’t avoid them. This book has given a voice to students who might not be
heard. We can see their experiences through their eyes. That’s powerful!”
“My America” also includes accounts of dangerous border crossings, heartbreaking farewells and painful
changes.
”Our students’ stories help us appreciate the diversity in our community and help us see our combined
identities,” said Gómez-Saxon. “Thanks to the Hornets Teacher Innovation Grant, we had the opportunity to
publish ‘My America’. Every testimonial is a patch in a quilt that illustrates our school, our community and our
country.”
Eleventh-grader Ghadeer Al-saadi is from Iraq, has lived in Turkey and is now living in the U.S. She has
found the transition difficult because of the family she left behind but has found comfort in her school family.
“My story is sad. I was with my cousins all the time and then I wasn’t. When I left, I cried a lot,” said
Ghadeer. “I love South Meck because they have made me feel at home. I still get homesick but I’ve go