Grant Bowler Student Wins Nevada AILA Essay Contest

By CORINNE MESSER

The Progress

Four local elementary-aged students were awarded last week for their writing skills. The fifth-graders from Grant Bowler Elementary were all recognized for placing in the “Celebrate America Creative Writing contest” at the school’s fifth-grade promotion ceremony on Friday, May 19.

Organized by the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA), this competition challenges fifth graders across the country to reflect on, and write about, one of two themes: “Why I Am Glad America Is a Nation of Immigrants,” or “What Does it Mean to be a Welcoming Nation.”

The contest inspires educators to bring U.S. immigration history and lessons into their classrooms and gives fifth graders the opportunity to explore America as a nation of immigrants, learn about and share family histories, or write about the broader questions of the challenges facing immigrants in a new land.

The contest begins at the local level, with regional contests run by AILA chapters. Each chapter sends its first-place winning entry to the American Immigration Council for the national contest.

Local resident, Nathalie Gottschalk, a member of the Nevada Chapter of AILA, has encouraged local school kids to enter the contest for several years now. Speaking at the Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony, Gottschalk thanked students at Grant M. Bowler for participating in the competition.

The Moapa Valley Educational Foundation (MVEF) selected three winning essays from the local school. MVEF’s Vice President, Kent Bennion, presented certificates and a small stipend during the ceremony to those who placed. Those recognized were: Lillia Villezcas (1st place), Ryker Robertson (2nd place), Leilani Russell (3rd place), and Alejandro Ramos (honorable mention). Villezcas, Robertson, and Russell had the opportunity to read their essays to the audience.

The AILA Nevada Chapter selected the same 3 essays to win first, second, and third place at the state level and will also issue certificates to each student.
Villezcas’ essay will represent Nevada at the national level, and the winner will be announced later this month.

The national winner will have the opportunity to travel to Florida with his/her parents to read the winning essay at the AILA National Convention.

The following is the first prize winning poem written by Villezcas.

3
I am number 3, but how does number 3 apply to me? I am third generation of an immigrant family, third generation of fading traditions and lost nationalities. But I refuse to let that be me.
My grandmother immigrated into this country with high hopes and her luggage full of dreams. In this country she made a home and started a family, holding on to her culture and her beliefs.
As she passed that conviction to my mother, she knew it was a vow of importance for her to keep. My mother held on to those values a little tighter, but it wasn’t as easy as it seemed, everything is different in the land of the free.
English became my mother’s primary language. She learned to hide her accent until there was no more trace. She began to identify more with her peers, same style, same likes, but certainly not the same face.
I have yet to experience stories such as the ones my mother once told us, a warning to never feel as if we don’t belong. There may be name-calling or discrimination, but stay true to yourself, your roots, be brave and no matter what always stand strong.
Whenever I am in doubt or feel out of place, I recite our national anthem, for this is the home of the brave. Brave like my grandmother when she left for the land of opportunity, brave like my mother when she chose to stay true to herself rather than just fit in.
Now it is my turn to take the vow to pass on through our next generation, our culture, our traditions, and our appreciation for this nation. For it is easy to forget where we came from, but in my family I will always find my motivation.
For I am number 3, a number that will always be of meaning to me. I am third generation of an immigrant family, third generation of lasting traditions and 2 nationalities, and the one to carry this on will be me.