Episode 3: Loyan Warsame

Loyan Warsame came to the US in 1991 after the War in Somalia. His father is Somali and his mother is African-American. As a young child he had to witness the horrors of war and struggle without food and water for a day or two. 

                                       

Finally after hiding out in the US Embassy, the Navy Seals came and rescued him and his family. He immediately started elementary school and it was difficult at first to be around so many people of different colors. However, he grew up to be just like any other American teenager. 

 

Before starting college he visited Dubai, UAE where he fell in love with the country! In 2006 he started school in San Francisco where he met his wife, of Indian decent, and immediately fell in love. 

They decided to get married in 2010 and gave birth to their first daughter followed by their second daughter in 2011. He is extremely happy with his life and knows that the lessons he learned growing up in two different cultures and races, he can pass on to his children and possibly his grandchildren.

Episode 2: Nayelly Sanchez

Nayelly Sanchez came to the United States when she was 6, on July 4, 1996. Her mother had cancer and needed to get chemotherapy. Her tests and medications were too expensive which is what brought them to the US, to pay back the money. Her dad had to stay in Mexico for a few months while Nayelly, her mother, and her sisters left their home country for a new land. Other than language being a barrier, they all had to learn a new culture and traditions. Going to school, making new friends and not being able to see their dad was just a few of her obstacles. However she was happy with the way that everything happened because she is very happy with her life here in the United States, with a fiancee and a baby boy on the way she is ecstatic about this upcoming bundle of joy! Nayelly is currently a preschool teacher at Delaware Technical Community College while she is getting her degree in education. She aspires to become a pediatrician someday.

She wants to plan her wedding around the following theme:

 

Helpful links:
1. Immigration and the Class Struggle in the US
2. Behind the 'Model Minority,' An American Struggle
3. Struggle of immigrant students in the US
4. Struggle for a US Citizenship
5. Living in America

Episode 1: Deepak Raja

Meet Deepak Raja, the man who sacrificed almost everything for his daughters. What more does a person need in their life except family, friends, a good job, and some time to relax? Well Mr. Raja gave up three out of those four things and though he finds happiness in his family, he still yearns for more.. 

That yearning is what brought him to America in the first place and after being here for 15 years he still hasn't stopped wishing for more. He came to the US in April 1999 with nothing but a family, slowly but surely he was able to get back up on his feet and move into their own apartment.

Deepak and Vidhata worked a 7am to 4pm shift monday to friday while taking care of their young daughters. In 2003 they bought their first home together in Bear, Delaware where they still reside. Both their daughters are now married and have children of their own.

Deepak doesn't regret his decision of coming to this country because he knows that his sacrifice was worth it, it was worth seeing his daughters happy. He still hopes to make strides in the right direction and attempt to attain the happiness he has always hoped and wished for himself.