Lise Byars

As autumn brought trees filled with scarlet, tangerine, amber and gold, nature gently reminded me that life is filled with stages and at every point transition occurs. This year, my own transitions: moving to a new city and state, beginning academic studies again, and the premature death of a loved family member, along with legislative possibilities and the election race; all bring forth the thought of change and how it affects those around us. Now is the perfect time to take a moment, breathe, enjoy the season changes and look back at not only our own transitions but also those of others that are occurring simultaneously.

Moving to a new place can fill one with trepidation; moving to a new country with a new language and customs. Leaving behind all that is comfortable and comforting to begin making a life and embracing the possibility of chance can only be viewed as courageous. And the beautiful part of this experience is that this nation is founded upon individuals taking that courageous step. For some of us, that step occurred too long ago for it to be a thoughtful consideration, for others it is our grandparents’, parents’ or even our own story. For too many of us, that audacious ancestor has no effect upon our lives. Our futures were made possible by that bold move to board a ship, cross a border, or hop on a plane to travel to this country, but it is something that we take for granted, assume is our rightful destiny and go about our day. Too often the words “assimilate now or go home” are tossed viciously into the faces of individuals attempting to make a better life for themselves and their families. Too often harsh criticism and snatching of opportunities occurs before there is time for familiarity to occur let alone assimilation. English creates a very thick barrier to penetrate and ignores the reality of whom and from where this country’s population comes from. Very few people can say that they are truly from this land; the rest of us must look to other places for our roots, or like me, look here and there. Because we are all the product of immigration, we should embrace our shared heritage as a nation of immigrants and celebrate the triumph of those embarking upon this transition to a new life filled with opportunity.

“Moving to a new place can fill one with trepidation; moving to a new country with a new language and customs. Leaving behind all that is comfortable and comforting to begin to make a life and embrace the possibility of chance can only be viewed as courageous.”

It is the strength, courage and adaptability of our ancestors that we memorialize as founding, building and molding the character of this nation. But somehow, now, we are too easily swayed by the sentiment that the opportunity is ours to bestow and grant on those deserving such honor. What gives us that right? Historically, we have created barriers based upon prejudice, fear and ignorance, but those barriers were lifted and grievances addressed (even if inadequately). If we are to live in this increasingly global world, we must open ourselves to embracing a global attitude and recognize our own position as a land of possibility. Of course, this must be done in a manner which provides for the safety of our nation and its people, but it does not mean that we should “defend our nation” with sweeping attitudes about individuals from other countries. Rather, we should recognize the beauty of our nation’s character and the beauty of the individuals who help to make that character shine. We should embrace those around us who are attempting to transition here and give each a little extra time to learn, find their way and assimilate in a manner that combines their own heritage with ours.

In this time of transition, as you begin your collegiate adventure or prepare to embark on life after graduation, it is imperative to stop and consider the journey that has brought you here. Not just the journey that you yourself took, but also the journey of those who made your presence here possible. Take the time to stop and look back. Hopefully, then we can all share in the transitions of each other with compassion. And maybe even help someone find his or her way.