Timothy Doe
What motivates one to immigrate to another country, especially to the United States? If you are an immigrant, you have no doubt been asked: “So, what brought you here?”
Everyone’s personal situation is different and a variety reasons come into play when someone decides to come and live in this great country. Some come to U.S. because of a dangerous political climate in their native country, others due to struggling economies, sky-high unemployment rates and lack of educational and professional opportunities in their home land. Many come to the United States in search of liberty, freedom, more economic opportunities and a better quality of life for their families.
In a sea of thousands who emigrate here every year, and the millions that came before them, this is the story of one such person. My name is Timothy Kokou Doe and I came to the United States in search of a better life in 2002. I grew up in Lomé, the capital (and largest city) of Togo, located on the West African coast. Back in Togo, I worked for nonprofit social service organizations, helping young people prevent early pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. I also created an association called Soleil de Nuit (Nighttime Sun), aimed at educating the public – especially teenagers – about these important topics through poetry, short sketches and theatrical plays. After moving to the U.S. from my native Togo, I worked in a restaurant for two years. Over the course of those two years, I practiced and improved my English so that I could one day pursue a career doing the direct care work that I love.
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The nurse came into the hospital room, still scanning my mother’s chart. He was radiating the manic cheeriness that nearly every other member of the staff had aimed at her since we got there, a fake friendliness I’d grown to hate. I could practically see the data he’d just processed scrolling behind his eyes: 90 years old, female, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, here for a pacemaker.
