When my parents were expecting me, they had gotten me a pink teddy bear that was twice my size as an infant. This bear has been with me every day since I was born up until now on my senior year of high school. The comfort of my bear lies somewhere between the familiar feel of the bear’s worn fur, or it's the only constant object in my life that has been in my life through best and worse. Most importantly, this bear is a reminder of my parents who immigrated to the U.S to escape religious oppression in Serbia against Muslims. Coming from their home country in Montenegro, they arrived in the U.S in 2001 after first escaping war across Europe for a new beginning. This bear is a symbol of what they have been through, and starting a new life, and reminds me of where my origins and traditions root from.
This bear represents that “we the people” not only includes everyone, but immigrants who deserve a place here. They come to the U.S which almost seems frightening, for opportunities that  they could not find in their home countries. They shouldn't be limited from being able to have freedoms simply because of their status that declares they do not have some paper, thus being labeled something disgusting as “alien”, no immigrant shouldn't fear every day whether or not an ICE agent waits outside their workplace, school or even home to be taken away. They deserve just as much freedom as anyone else.

– AK

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant