In our Voices blog, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers share their experiences and thoughts with other newcomers. Blog posts are published mostly in English.

As a kid who grew up in a war zone, I grew up with a lot of fear. I was always a sick child and after a while realized that most of my sickness comes from my fear. I did not know that what I really needed was mental health help. My parents always said ... Read more

I was 19 years old when my family and I fled the war in Syria in 2012.  I never made it through high school, but GED prep classes in the USA changed that. I always had a dream to become a nurse. But when war broke out in my country, it destroyed as many people’s dreams ... Read more

I studied English at school in my home country, so by the time I was an adult I thought I could speak it fluently. I did not think I needed much English practice. However, as soon as I arrived in the USA and had my first interaction, I realized I didn’t understand as much as ... Read more

An interpreter career has great benefits but it does come with a lot of challenges. An interpreter is someone who changes verbal information from one language to another. A translator is someone who changes written words to a different language. There is a great need for interpreters and translators in newcomer communities. These jobs are ... Read more