Beowulf's Greatest Challenges

Challenge Essay Moving into The United States that has a different language has been the biggest obstacle that I have ever faced, especially with the fact that there was a time where I didn’t understand a single word of that language called English. This was a big obstacle in my life since I was raised in Mexico where the prime language, there is Spanish and that was the only language I knew back then, it was until the day had come where my family and I had to move into the United States due to the violence that has been happening in Mexico. I consider those times the most difficult ones of my whole life because I had to work triple than what I normally did in school in order for me to learn a huge complex language.

Introducing Me My name is Melissa Diaz, but my friends call me Meli. I was born and raised in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. At ten years old, I experienced a drastic change in my life, my family and I moved to the United States. Moving to the U.S brought upon enormous changes in my life.

Last summer, my family decided to move to Oregon from a small town in Maine. Throughout high school, I was motivated to try new things. Nevertheless, moving across the country to a school where I knew no one would be the biggest change I ever endured. I was terrified of the unknown. It felt like I was going to a party I wasn’t invited to.

I have become very fond of new ideas and new strategies to take on life. But my mom’s concussion has made me into a new person. I had to help more around the house, not making as much noise while being in the house and in the car, and being more responsible and taking control over situations like shopping. My mother is still going through this concussion, but she has been getting better. Let me tell you picking up our house is not my cup of tea, but with my sister's help we can pick it up easily.

They say that I have no impact. That my words have no weight in a planet of over seven billion people shouting to have their voices heard. In a world plagued with famine, war, and global warming, it is normal to feel as though we do not have any influence in the crises of our planet. However, I believe that change begins with just one person. Receiving the Calvin Coolidge scholarship would allow me the opportunity to transform my dreams into existence.

Where are you from? Can you speak English? Can you speak Japanese? This is the most asked question in my life. I was born in Japan as Japanese.

Imagine what it is like to be seven years old moving to a country where you don’t know anyone, you don’t understand the language, and everything seems foreign. When I first arrived to the United States, I didn’t have friends due to my inability to speak English. It wasn’t an easy journey, but my determination to achieve the American Dream gave me strength to keep going. I decided to take English courses during my free time, and now I am a great writer who is fluent in both English and Spanish.

“So, if you just came from Pakistan, how can you speak English?” My friend asked me, with her eyebrows raised. It’s a question I get asked every time I shyly introduce myself to someone. A surprised look that I have seen far too many times. Yet, I feel unable to give an answer to those who automatically stereotype me as an ignorant, solely based on my heritage.

Moving to the United States was not an easy journey for my family and I. I had to get integrate to a new society which meant a changing to my traditional lifestyle and habit and learning a new language and culture. In high school, I adapted well because many courses were not too vigorous, and the classes moved at a slower pace. On the contrary, college requires juggling multiple classes and adapting to the new college life. For eighteen years of my life, I had never spent more than two days away from my parents, so it was quite difficult at first.

Healthcare was an unplanned career for me. I am not one of those people who knew that I was going into healthcare from an early age. I spent twelve years in and out of the foster care system and worked as a warehouse laborer. Did I even have the opportunity to consider my passion at all? I was asked, “Where are you going from here?