This week I experienced the honor of being sworn in as a U.S. citizen. This may feel like somewhat of a personal blog; however, each year the USCIS welcomes an average 700,000 new citizens and, as our ceremony’s guest speaker emphasized, part of becoming a citizen is sharing your story. Growing up, I didn’t necessarily know U.S. citizenship would be part of my story, but I’m proud it is!

Each case is unique; in mine, the process was smooth and, most importantly, fast! There were only seven months between the moment I submitted my application and the swear-in ceremony — it could typically take 18 to 20 months for a case to be completed.

I want to attribute my lack of nerves and failure to recognize how much this meant to how busy I kept myself and the fact I have been living here for eight years, paying taxes like every other American, so I already felt like a true American citizen.

Quite a few of my family members are naturalized citizens, and they paved the way to get me here. It wasn’t until I saw the other 66 applicants and their family members that I understood the magnitude of this accomplishment.

Sixty-seven strangers.
Thirty-five countries.
A common goal.

All of the people in that room have a story of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Once we were asked to stand and raise our right hand to say the Oath of Allegiance, my eyes watered, my throat closed up, and it was as if I was reliving the decade I spent as a resident and all of the years my mother sacrificed our time together to build a better future for me. That was THAT moment, the one where I saw all those sacrifices pay off.

To me, being an American means I now belong to a country formed to bring people together. And now my voice holds the power to help my fellow citizens continue to make that happen.

— Yasser Ogando, production & advertising coordinator