Day 2 in New York (February 2)
Mikaylah ’26 & Keoni ’26
We both grew up in New York – in the Bronx and in Brooklyn – but we never visited Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty. We grew up thinking it was a tourist attraction and that we wouldn’t benefit from going, but we were wrong.
The Statue of Liberty was beautiful. Seeing it in person was a life changing experience and standing on her pedestal was even more so. The museum inside the statue was very informative. We knew the statue was a gift from France but we didn’t know just how expansive the process was, and just how many times the statue needed to be disassembled. We also learned about the debate on who should be paying for the statue, which was interesting because it was a gift. We were elated when we read and translated the original French documents, proving that studying French was worth it.
After we left the Statue of Liberty, we went to the Ellis Island Museum of Immigration. Upon entering we saw a representation of the immigrants’ baggage claim. We learned that the immigrants were watchful of their luggage because it contained everything they owned, and they would be left with nothing if it was lost. When we went deeper into the museum, we entered an interactive exhibit with voices of people that were affected by immigration. One of the accounts was about a man called Chief Joseph, whose tribe was greatly affected by European expansion. Hearing about this in his own voice and, from his own point of view made the information hit even harder. He explained how his people had no food, no blankets, but what really broke us was when he said, “I’m tired of fighting.”
Ellis Island only added to the marvel of it all. Being in the spot where countless immigrants once stood – hopeful for a new life filled with new opportunities – was extremely impactful. We heard stories about how the Statue of Liberty was the first thing people saw upon arriving in New York’s harbor, and just how hopeful they were. It filled us with wonderful emotions and we felt hopeful and excited, just as many more before us did.
