June is Immigrant Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we’ll be celebrating both our diversity and our shared American heritage by telling the stories of individuals that, together, comprise a uniquely American narrative.
Raul Arcos
I originally came to the United States because of my mom. She wanted my brother and I to have greater opportunities and better education than we could have in Mexico. So, we moved to Idaho when I was eight years old.
We first moved to Idaho because my extended family lived there. While there were many seasonal job opportunities for work, it was very difficult to find a full-time position. Eventually, one of my cousins moved to Schuyler, Nebraska. They liked it a lot and then convinced the rest of my family to move there. After two years in Idaho, we moved to Schuyler when I was 10.
Two years later, my mom, my brother, and I moved to Madison, Nebraska. Perhaps because of my small school, I felt like a part of the community. There were at least 10 other Latino families living there, and my teachers were very welcoming. They made me feel like I belonged there. I felt like Nebraska was home.
That sentiment has continued. A couple of years ago, I moved to Columbus for work. With better jobs and higher wages, I had better opportunity there.
At this point, I’ve lived in the United States for 25 years. I have grown to be deeply invested in my community here. The work that we do at my job with the local Chamber of Commerce has been amazing. And, the moments of success in this work are what I cherish the most.
I love seeing GED participants get their GED because of the effort, dedication, and sacrifice they make. I also enjoy helping Business Development participants open their business and assisting them with technical issues. I get to see the growth in the process with all of the work that we’re doing in Columbus. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Nebraska is home!