What would make the United States a better place to live?
In May, students in the 826 Boston’s Writers’ Room at Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINcA) tackled this question in letters addressed to President Biden. Students wrote about issues close to their hearts, including racism, equality, and the cost of college.
Below are two of the letters, written by Geovanna and Kelin, both high schoolers at BINcA. Geovanna speaks of a country where she can breathe easier in public and where the cost of college truly reflects the notion that education is a fundamental right, while Kelin encourages the Biden administration to “work on opportunities for education for non-citizen teenagers during your time in office…because our generation is the future of this country.”
These two letters—along with several others from BINcA students—were mailed to the White House. To read Geovanna and Kelin’s letters in their entirety, continue reading below.
Geovanna
What would make the United States a better place to live?
Living in a country that only speaks my struggle and not my language made racism stand out to me. When I was in Cape Verde I felt no discrimination, yet I observed the white privilege with “gringos” that visited my country. I am deeply concerned about my future in this country. I came into this country looking for freedom yet I feel trapped in a cage. I move with fear, speak with fear and think about fear. The fear of meeting people who are capable of killing me for the simple fact that I am a brown skinned girl. I am writing about this fear because it’s not my own and I believe that the human race can become better. I still dream about equality even if it might only be a state of mind and not reality. I just want to be able to breathe the same air as everyone and not feel uncomfortable by their presence. I believe I can walk the streets without wearing my everyday “fear coat.”
I wonder every day the reason why going to college is so expensive. Isn’t education a fundamental right? Or did I read it wrong under the constitution? My English level might not be the best but my pockets never lied to me. I am a senior and I never felt so small or discouraged by anything more than when I saw how much going to college cost. I really thought to myself: “Can I afford to dream this big?” I can dream but the nightmares of loans after 5 years of college would be extensive. I would have to work and try to pay for it during my whole life afterwards. So I ask once again: “Why is college so expensive, if you are required to go to college to have anything today?” I might not have the answer for these questions. But I know that if it became a little less difficult or less expensive, students would feel the urge of dreaming more. They would feel that they could afford to dream a little more. We, students would feel less anxiety, less amount of stress towards college.
Thank you for reading my letter. I hope for the best for you and your administration during your time in office.
Sincerely,
Geovanna
Kelin
I am a high school junior at Boston International Newcomers Academy. I am 18 years old. I really like to debate and learn new things. I was born in El Salvador and came to the US in January 2019. I want to study engineering and be a researcher engineer in biomedical or biotechnological areas after my graduation. Something interesting about me is that I enjoy learning from other cultures, and one of my dreams is to learn at least two more languages in my lifetime.
I am writing to you today to express my hopes for your administration with Vice President Kamala Harris.
There is one issue that is very important to me. I hope you will work on opportunities for education for non-citizen teenagers during your time in office. This is important to me as a teenage immigrant who had to start a new life here as many others in this country. I know that finding opportunities and trying to fit into the system is really hard with barriers such as language, segregation, or life insecurities that make studies sometimes not possible because there are other necessities. I think you should work on this issue first because our generation is the future of this country. Many times brilliant minds that come from different backgrounds and countries for different reasons are being excluded or simply ignored; that shouldn’t happen because education should be for everyone regardless of sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, background or any other difference.
Thank you for reading my letter. I hope you will do what you can to address this important issue so the future of America will be brighter.
God bless you as you begin your term as President of the United States with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Sincerely,
Kelin
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