Over the summer, Texas was in the spotlight for the tens of thousands of unaccompanied Central American children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Two years ago, Dilcia Mazariegos made a similar trek north to escape a violent home life in Guatemala. The 18-year-old is safe in Plano. But her new life in Texas is filled with challenges. It's the latest story in KERA's American Graduate series Generation One.
Explore the interactive series here.
One in three Texas kids is either an immigrant or the child of immigrants. Over the next several weeks, KERA will explore the challenges these children face and the ways North Texas schools are trying to weave them into the American tapestry.
These kids have to learn a new language, adapt to a different culture and try to fit into a community that may not embrace newcomers.
Chapter 3: She Escaped Violence For A Fresh Start in Texas
The third story in the series introduces Dilcia M. Asencio Mazariegos, who left Guatemala in 2012 to get away from a violent family member. She attends Plano East Senior High School where she's enrolled in English as a Second Language classes. But she's also been juggling two jobs.
Dilcia's teachers say students like her face academic challenges such as learning English. Some come with little schooling in their home country or haven't mastered their native language.
At the same time, many of these kids have a strong work ethic, says immigration attorney Paul Zoltan. Having gone to great lengths to reach the U.S., students like Dilcia may take on a lot of responsibility once they're here.
"She wants to be a productive member of society," Zoltan says.
Chapter 2: Going From Spanish (Or Urdu Or Arabic) To English
The second story in the series takes a look at how the Grapevine-Colleyville school district is responding to the dramatic demographic changes.
In recent years, the number of students learning English — they’re called English language learners — has climbed 60 percent.
The district partnered with the police department to create the Grapevine Community Outreach Center. And the district launched the Language Assessment Center over the summer. Kids who aren’t native English speakers get tested at the center and are then placed in the right language program.
Of the students learning English in Grapevine-Colleyville, most speak Spanish. But kids also speak Korean, Urdu, Hindi, Arabic and Ukrainian.
“Learning a language is not easy, whether you’re 5 or whether you’re 45,” says Jodi Cox, the district’s world languages director.
Chapter 1: In A Land Of Strangers, Paving His Own Path
The first story features David Kapuku. Just two weeks after arriving from Africa, David enrolled at Conrad High School in Northeast Dallas. He started school in a new country where students speak a different language. It can be overwhelming. Now, a year and a half later, David is helping other refugee kids making the transition.
About the series
Each Tuesday through the end of the year, stories will air on KERA 90.1 FM. Explore the stories in KERA’s digital storytelling project, which features videos and an interactive graphic showing where Texas’ foreign-born population comes from.
Generation One is part of KERA's American Graduate initiative.
