My name is Camila, and I’m sixteen years old. I moved from Argentina to America with my family during the Gilded Age. We left our home searching for a better life and new opportunities. It’s a big change, and I feel excited but also scared. I wonder how I will fit in. Even though it’s hard, I know I have to be strong and brave for my family. 

We got into the boat and now we have to wait about 3 months to get to New York. The engine roared, but all I could hear were the foreign words around me. I felt scared because I didn’t know how to speak English, and everything felt so unfamiliar. I found a quiet corner and opened a small English book my mother gave me. Each word was a mystery, but I was determined to learn. 

As we get to New York, I start seeing all these tall buildings and there are so many people!  I see the tall buildings and busy streets, everything was so different from home and I wonder how I will fit in... 

3 months later...

When our boat finally docked, I felt a rush of emotions. The noise was deafening as people rushed around us, and I could see my family looking just as confused as I felt. Officials were asking questions, and I struggled to understand the words. My heart raced as I watched my parents answer, hoping everything would be okay. I felt very small and scared, worried that we wouldn’t belong here. I'm excited to go to our new home!

When we finally reached our new home, I felt a mix of excitement and fear. The small apartment was cozy but different from what I was used to. I looked around, taking in the new smells and sounds, but my heart sank a little. Would I make friends in this strange place? My family was happy, but I felt nervous about fitting in. Even though everything felt new and scary, I hoped this could be a place where we could live a better life. 

I see that my family is struggling financially so I want to get a job so that I can help. My mom keeps telling me that everything will be okay and that all I need to do is study. I wish I could do both. I know that I need to study and if that will make my mom happy that is what I'm going to do. 

When I walked into the public school, my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. The hallways were loud and full of kids talking in a language I didn’t understand. I felt so confused and nervous, like I didn’t belong here. I held my books tightly, wishing I could disappear. Every time someone looked at me, I felt different and scared. But inside, I hoped this was the beginning of something better for me.

Just when I thought I’d be all alone, I spotted a girl with a big smile who looked like me! Her name was Sofia, and she spoke Spanish, too. We laughed and shared stories about our families, and I felt a little lighter, like I could finally breathe. But then, some kids started whispering and pointing at us. One kid said, “Why are you two speaking that weird language?” I felt my cheeks turn red, like a tomato, and I didn’t know what to say. But Sofia squeezed my hand and said, “We’re proud of who we are!” I knew then that as long as we had each other, we could face anything together.