Lamine

"The past is the past. Yesterday will never be again. I want to focus on tomorrow."

By Students of NYC

February 7^th, 2025

"You hear about the United States, and that everything is perfect. You think that American people are rich, and don’t need anything. But when I came here, I saw it’s different. I talk to a lot of people. And some of them, they say: I have everything, but every day I am stressed because I have bills to pay. They don’t feel comfortable, or enjoy themselves. And many people here — they don’t have a lot. When I see them on the streets, and they are hungry, I want to help. I want to give them something — money, food. But I don’t know if it’s safe. In Senegal, we take care of each other. We call it "teranga." When I have this, and you don’t have that, I help you. On another day, you’ll help me.

I went through so much to come here. There is so much that happened. Too much to tell. But when I finally arrived here, it was like I had no problems. I didn’t care about being hungry. Or sick. I didn’t care about being scared. I just said thank you God, I am here, and I can be American. The past is the past. Yesterday will never be again. I want to focus on tomorrow. I want to focus on my education, build my future. To make the people around me proud, and be able to help others. I have a big dream. I want to be an architect because then I can have money to help people. People who don't have much, or who are sick. Oh, I hate seeing sick people. When I go to the hospital and see this, it makes me cry.

My first day of school, I spoke no English. I tried to understand people by their body language. Right away, Ms. Macaluso made me comfortable. You can tell by the way someone looks if they care about you. Every day, she did nice things for me. And if she didn’t see me one day, she would come to check for me the next. I don’t know why she cares about me so much. Why all my teachers do. But you know what I think? Your family isn’t always who you are born to. It’s the people who love you. Like Ms. Macaluso.

I know who I am. I’m a nice guy. It is my heart that is nice. If people try to fight me, I don't know how. I don't do that, that fighting thing. I like to help people. I don’t want anybody around me to feel stressed or uncomfortable. If I look at your face and see that maybe you are having some problems, I will make you laugh. I will make you happy. I will tell you how beautiful you are. I will bring an interesting conversation to you to make you okay."