By Clerkson Ngolle
As a young Black boy who came to the United States from Cameroon at age 11, everything I saw was new. Never would I have thought I would come to America, a place where I could only see on TV back home.
It wasn’t an easy thing to do for my family. We went through many background checks, document checks and proof of guardianship.
School was one of the few things I was looking forward to. I kept wondering how the school would look, would I be able to make friends, and would the classes be hard for me.
Finally, the day came. From a distance, I saw a yellow truck heading towards us. I didn’t know what it was until my mom said, “That’s your school bus.” The doors opened and we got in and I made sure my siblings were close as we sat together. I waved at my mom as the bus took us away.
After a couple of minutes, I saw a big building with a lot of children entering it. I held my siblings’ hands to help me calm down. The bus stopped and we got off. Then a lady walked up and said she would be our guide and we should call her Ms. Susan. We got into the building and I was amazed how beautiful it was.
As we were walking down the hallway, I could not help but notice everyone was looking at me. I thought there was something wrong with me and they started laughing. Ms. Susan held my hand, which made me feel she was telling me not to worry. Another lady walked towards me and took my siblings because we weren’t in the same grade. I started to get worried, as any older brother would.
I got to my first class, walked in and sat down but I could feel the eyes of everyone looking at me, which made me feel uneasy. I was the only Black kid in the class, which made me feel I was alone. Class started and we had to introduce ourselves. After everybody had gone, it was my turn. I stood up with everyone staring at me. I could barely muster a word. I said my name and sat down, but I could hear the other kids laughing. I thought they were laughing at my name, but instead they were laughing at my accent.
The day went by and school ended. When we got home, my parents were filled with excitement to hear how our day went. Even though I was home, I could still hear the laughter of the kids and the names they were calling me during recess.
I was a Black boy who just came to this country and didn’t know what racism and bullying was. I was sent to a place where I thought I would be able to laugh and have fun, but sadly (on that first day) that was not the case. I didn’t tell my parents how the other kids treated me because I knew it would make things worse, so I just smiled and told them my day was fun.
From that day on, I knew I had to be strong, not physically, but mentally, not just for me, but for my siblings. My father told me the world is not (always) a nice place. Some people will not like you, so they will treat you differently. They might laugh at you, but remember where you came from.
Now (I’m) chasing (a) dream to become an engineer. Choosing the perfect school where I would follow my education wasn’t easy. I wanted a place where I would feel comfortable – and where I would be proud to say I attended. A cousin mentioned the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to me and I did some research and found it was the perfect place. It had my major, it wasn’t expensive, and it wasn’t too far from home.
But the one thing that made me choose UMES was the community surrounding it, a community filled with young people I could relate to. Here is a community where I won’t feel like I’m alone and one where I can open up and talk to others. I’ve learned it wasn’t just a school; it was a place that is motivated young African Americans and other people from different racial backgrounds to reach their goals in academics and help them grow into a better vision of themselves.
A lot of challenges of all kinds will be heading my way, but I’m ready to stand my ground and overcome them. I still look at school with the same excitement and anticipation that I did at 11. Only this time I’m in a place where I will not be laughed at, but instead be able to open up to others and build relationships.
That’s why I’m willing to put in the work that is needed to achieve my goals and dreams. Nothing is given to those who aren’t willing to put in the work.
Freshman Clerkson Ngolle crafted this essay as a “Youth Voices” assignment in Dr. Amy Hagenrater-Gooding’s English class and is reproduced here for a wider audience to enjoy.
