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  • Rebekah Schultz (right) serves as one of two co-chairs at this year’s Building Bridges conference at Gustavus Adolphus College. Schultz watches Saturday as keynote speaker Kao Kalia Yang responds to a question-and-answer session. One of the unique aspects of the annual conference focusing on diversity issues is that it is completely student driven. Wright Braudt

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March 13, 2010

Dreams come true; help welcome

Immigrants tell their stories at Building Bridges conference

By Tim Krohn The Free Press

ST PETER — Working toward the American dream can be a lonely, isolating and arduous task when you’re coming from another country.

“Studying here was very isolating. I only had my husband. I was so lonely and was so far removed from all my family,” said Mayra Taylor.

“In the ’80s, we didn’t have cell phones and Skype and Facebook. You maybe talked to your family once a month.”

Taylor, a faculty member at Gustavus Adolphus College and native of Columbia, was one of several immigrants to tell their stories at the college’s Building Bridges Conference Saturday.

Student Irma Marquez, who came from Mexico at age 9, moved with her family to  St. James. “I remember walking into class, there were a lot of Caucasian students. Everyone stared at me. I sat next to another Latino student who translated for me.”

Marquez quickly learned English — a skill that put her in a key role as her parents and adult relatives spoke only Spanish. “At 10, I had to go with my parents to stores and do bills and ask things for them. I had to grow up fast.”

Adrinna Flores came from Mexico with her mother and two other siblings in 1997. Crossing by foot across the border, they were stopped by a border guard.

“She told him she was trying to come here because she wanted something better for us,” said a tearful Flores. “She couldn’t afford to pay for our schooling, she was working three jobs, day and night.”

Her mother’s burdensome workload meant little time to be a mom, Flores said.

“I didn’t have her to tell me about your first boyfriend or what a woman goes through or to just do homework with.”

Taylor said that in spite of the challenges faced by those on the panel, they are much better off than many immigrants.

“International students have an advantage because they have documents, they know English and they have an education,” said Taylor, who teaches Spanish at Gustavus. “Those are the three biggest obstacles for most immigrants.”

Taylor said that even after she received her college degrees, she faced discrimination.

“I had a fancy degree and (an American) last name, so I looked good on paper.”

But she said, when she was called in for job interviews, things changed.

“I could see it in their eyes. It happened over and over.”

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