The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

More than red, white and blue: stories of citizenship in the United States

More+than+red%2C+white+and+blue%3A+stories+of+citizenship+in+the+United+States

Co-authored by Shriya Deshpande. 

Photo by Shriya Deshpande.
Photo by Shriya Deshpande.

Eight thousand four hundred and thirty-one miles. That’s the distance between the United States and India. But it isn’t merely the distance or the country in itself that defines America as a place that many, like senior Arpit Jasapara and his family, yearn to be in. The distance does not define who an American is. Despite being born in India and living in London and Dubai, senior Arpit Jasapara identifies as an American. Like Jasapara, Ryan Loke and his family avoid polarizing themselves by their birthplaces and although born in Korea, junior Spencer Jin is optimistic about continuing his life in the U.S.

Click on their faces below to learn about their stories. From left to right, senior Arpit Jasapara, junior Spencer Jin and sophomore Ryan Loke. 

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Citizenship classes

The sound of children’s excited laughter echoes through the downstairs children’s section of the Cupertino library. It’s 7 p.m., time for the kids to put down their Nancy Drew books and head home as adults walk to the end of the Santa Clara County Library. There’s a small, green room that has a blue “US Citizenship and Immigration Services” banner hanging on a table.

The inside room is quiet, and there are significantly fewer people. Six to be exact. A diverse group of adults stare at the United States Citizenship and Immigration officer discussing the benefits of naturalization. Despite their different origins, the reason for attending the class is clear. What is naturalization and what is necessary to attain it?

Part of the naturalization process involves an oral interview with questions regarding history, the government and other aspects of the United States. 

Watch the video below to see if MVHS students can correctly answer these questions.

Video by Amanda Chan and Jennie Chen

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