According to the Migration Policy Institute, there were over 40 new immigrants to America in 2015. A lot of people travel to other countries to build new lives and start families. They may also have to adjust to new American living standards which may put a strain on their preferred traditions.

Going to such a diverse school such as Eleanor Roosevelt, there are tons of different ethnicities throughout the school. Many of my peers are first generation Americans. Often, they have to learn how to balance multiple cultures and incorporate them into their everyday lifestyle.

Identity is often a significant issue for people, such as, whether to combine nationalities. Senior Hannah Uche considers herself Nigerian-American because of her being born in America but her parents being from Nigeria. Senior Juliet Jack whose mother is from Peru and father is from Trinidad & Tobago. In explanation for the stress she feels, she said “sometimes when I fill out forms I can’t pick between Hispanic and Black/Caribbean…I feel like I shouldn’t have to choose because I’m both.” People who identify with more than one nationality often have to choose and be put into one category.

People born in the United States and parents being born elsewhere often try to hold onto their parents’ culture, but without being in their exact country or in the necessary environment, the connection is strained. Senior Adaeze Okoroajuzie’s parents from Nigeria, she considers herself to be “both American and Nigerian.” She felt it was “very hard being in America”, saying she felt “culturally deprived…my parents didn’t introduce or explain my culture until I traveled to Nigeria in 2010.” Even though people may be born in the United States, they may still have that connection to where their parents were born, which may help them develop their sense of identity.