I remember visiting the Statue of Liberty when I was younger. Back then, I really didn’t know what it symbolized, but I thought it was a cool monument. I knew the basics like it was a gift from the French to the US and that it was copper, so it oxidized and turned green over time. Growing up, I learned more about the cultural significance of the Statue of Liberty.

Its deep-rooted connection to immigration in America is an important symbol to many people in America who left their homes in order for a better life in America. Being the child of first-generation immigrants in America makes me often think of everything my parents left back home in order for me and my siblings to have a better life.