Provost's Essay Contest: Second place: Raíces

 Immigrants cross the border with only one thing in their mind. Better opportunities. They leave their homes in search of better ones. They leave their family to help support them. They leave their old lives to start new ones. Is it worth it? By leaving will they forget about their old lives that are transformed by the new? No! Although they leave their old homes they will never forget where they truly come from. Although they will experience a cultural shock, they will always find their roots. No matter how far they have to dig, people like them, come from one place and one place only. So people question, "Why do Mexican immigrants still cheer for the Mexican soccer team when they play the U.S." It’s not only because of their roots, but the cultural change that these immigrants come to live by. The connections that they had back in Mexico will not be the same as when they live here. Yes! Their roots are what make them who they are, and they make them their own individuals; this is not the only reason.

Leaving everything that you care about is one of the hardest things to do. The people you love, your home that you came to cherish, and above all your old life. Some people think that packing up and leaving is easy to do but they are wrong. When leaving something behind, a part of you stays with it no matter how far you are. This same thing applies to the immigrants that come over from Mexico. They are leaving behind the one thing they came accustomed to over the years of their life. However, people still question why they cheer for the opposite team. They don’t realize the importance it brings when they see players from their home country. It brings happiness to their hearts. Being able to see their old life, even if it’s just for two hours will bring joy to anyone. However, being reminded of what they left behind in search of a better life can bring sadness to the soul that only some people can truly understand. It all goes back to the roots of the person’s life. They will always come and cherish what they left behind even if they left for a better cause. People can change, but the roots will stay the same no matter where you are, what you’re doing, who you’re with, and who you want to become in life. Cherish these moments for the rest of your life because whenever you need something to remind you of home, your roots will always be there for you.

Cultural Shock! Immigrants when they are able to experience an event that brings back past memories of their old homes will cause them emotional distress. Some people who immigrate over from other countries have changed their lives to fit their new ones, however, when getting the chance to see their home country for instance play soccer, they will be reminded of what they left behind and choose to cheer for them instead. Most people can’t come to the full understanding of what immigrants go through when being reminded of their old homes. In Mexico, soccer is a topic of main importance to some people, and when watching, old lives come crashing down and they break. Some can’t help it too cry, others scream out, and some just sit there in silence. Cultural shock is another main reason that Mexican immigrants cheer for their Mexico soccer team when they play the United States.

Your past is what molds the future. How you decide to learn from the past is up to you as an individual. Whether you come from Mexico as an immigrant and start over as an American, just remember your roots will never change. They are part of who you are, even if you don’t want to be a part of them. Being a reminder can bring people down on their knees and they feel regret for leaving, but in the end they knew it was inevitable. Cultural shock is something that all immigrants face whether they want to admit it or not. It’s okay. It’s your life and you should not have to be afraid to express how much you miss it. Someday people will come to truly understand why Mexican immigrants cheer for the Mexican soccer team when they play the U.S., and when they do they will only be thinking about one thing. Your life!