*The student who shared their story for this piece chose to be anonymous – their name has been changed here.

Merida’s Story

Merida knew almost nothing about Seattle when faced with the choice of whether to move here—not even how to spell it. Her dad was already living here, and he told her that it rained a lot, that it was cold, and that people were very kind. He also shared that compared to other places in the U.S., Seattle is more welcoming and has more opportunities for immigrants, so Merida decided to make the move and join him.

Merida’s first thought when she arrived? “I’m in a freezer!” When she got off the airplane she was wearing a jacket, gloves, and a hat, and still still she was shaking. “It was like a shock because I’m from a warm climate.” While she’s learned to tolerate the cold, she still thinks Seattle is a bit of a freezer and says her dad was right about the weather.

She also agrees with her dad’s assessment that the people here are kind. “I use public transportation all the time, and I’ve never suffered from racism or felt discriminated against, so that’s why I appreciate Seattle. I think it’s a warm place for me, in this case. How ironic.” Sometimes people are almost too friendly for introverted Merida. “I feel like every time they have the opportunity, they smile at you! Sometimes I’m waiting for my bus and people come up to me and tell me to have a nice day, and in my head I’m like ‘What? I don’t even know you.’’’

At school Merida is enrolled in Running Start, taking classes at a local community college alongside her studies at Seattle World School. Pre-calculus, she says, is “almost a nightmare,” but she needs the credits so she keeps at it. The idea of choosing a career pathway after high school feels daunting. “It’s a big decision I have to make, and I’m afraid of making a mistake.” She’s taking some college classes in the social sciences to help explore her options.

At first, one of her college classes was hard to follow. Her professor used a lot of slang and phrases that Merida found difficult. “At first I didn’t understand anything. The only phrase he said all the time that I understood was ‘You know what I’m saying?’ And I’d think, ‘No, I don’t understand.’” Over time she got used to his way of speaking, and now they’re learning about experiments that are interesting. Merida laughed while explaining how scientists taught a rat to play basketball.

Outside the classroom Merida is creative and thoughtful. She’s often busy these days with high school and college courses, but when she has free time she loves to draw while listening to music, especially rock. “Ninety-five percent of the songs in my playlist are by Queen,” she says. At home, she likes spending time with her family either just talking or watching movies. Their favorites are comedies, she says, especially ones with Adam Sandler. 

Every year since Merida enrolled at Seattle World School she has participated in Kandelia’s summer program, where students earn credit towards graduation, practice English, and learn content for core classes. She says the program helped her be more outgoing and open up about things when she was new, and she appreciates that Kandelia staff are really warm and welcoming. The program, run in collaboration with school staff, also helped Merida get to know her teachers before the school year began. She especially valued learning from teachers who have lived the experiences they teach about. A history class about Africa, led by a teacher from the continent, gave her insights she hadn’t had before.

Merida has come a long way since she first arrived in the “freezer” we Seattleites call home. While she’s not yet sure about the career path she plans to pursue after high school, she’s certain about one thing—the advice she’d offer to newcomers in Seattle. “Always have an umbrella or something waterproof.”

With the help of Kandelia and the community she has found here, Merida is finding her way. With your gift, Kandelia can continue providing the classes, mentorship, and encouragement immigrant students need to work towards their dream future. Please donate today and help ensure more students have the support they deserve.