Written By Allie Plunk
September 1st marked the first day of LEAP’s Annual Citizenship Classes, an initiative that provides free resources and support to immigrants preparing to take their Naturalization Exams.
Before the class officially began, volunteers gathered to take a practice Naturalization Exam ourselves. This gave us a better understanding of the information participants would need to know before pursuing U.S. citizenship. Many of us were surprised by the complexity of some of the questions, and several volunteers—including myself—learned something new by the end of the evening!
Once the participants arrived and had an opportunity to eat, we divided them into two groups: those eligible to take the Naturalization Exam in Spanish and those who would need to take it in English. Applicants may qualify to take the test in their native language if they meet certain age and residency requirements, including being at least 50 years old and having lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for 20 years, or being at least 55 years old with 15 years of permanent residency. Nataly Elizondo led the Spanish-speaking group, while Professor Yawn led the English-speaking group.
The class began with a twenty-question practice Naturalization Exam, similar to the one the volunteers had taken earlier. Participants were encouraged to answer the questions to the best of their ability, allowing us to get a better understanding of their current knowledge of American history and, for those taking the English exam, their English-speaking skills. After the practice test, Professor Yawn covered important interview basics and discussed recent changes to the Naturalization process. He then began working through some of the most important moments in American history, covering everything from Christopher Columbus to George Washington.
One of my favorite moments of the evening was listening to what was arguably one of the most infamous performances of the National Anthem in recent American history: Fergie’s rendition at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. While certainly memorable for all the wrong reasons, it provided a humorous and lighthearted way to introduce the Star-Spangled Banner. It was an unexpected moment of laughter that made the lesson much more memorable for everyone in the room.
More than anything, it was incredible to see a room full of people working toward the same goal: becoming U.S. citizens. Each participant brought their own experiences, challenges, and reasons for pursuing citizenship, but they all shared the determination to take the next step in their journey. Being able to play even a small role in helping them prepare for such an important milestone was a genuinely rewarding experience, and I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of this year’s Citizenship Classes have in store.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 