By Shellie Miller Farrugia
Every individual has a story as unique and personal as their fingerprints. Every person’s story begins with a date, time and place where we are born. Here are the stories of some local friends, neighbors and business owners who ‘elected’ to take the steps to gain the freedom, equality and choices that come with being an American.
The City of Coral Springs’ Community Relations Manager, Joyce Campos, was born in India. “I came to the U.S. at the age of 24 after just getting married. My first job was here at the City as Citizens’ Service Representative. After getting emotionally involved with my job and living in this great country, I knew right away that I wanted to become a citizen.” The minutiae of Joyce’s story may be individually unique to her, but the general idea is a common thread to many of our community’s immigrants. She shares, “25 years ago, becoming a citizen to me meant really getting involved in the country. It gave me a right to voice my opinion and make a difference with my ability to vote.”
Many Americans who were born here may take their liberties for granted. Their religious, political and freedoms of expression are just a handful of rights they’ve been gifted when birthed on American soil. In many developed parts of the world human rights are not bestowed in the same way they are here. According to Amnesty International, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens have been killed and imprisoned in Morocco, Russia, South Korea, China and dozens of other countries for truthful reporting, peaceful demonstrations and expressing their opinions. 46 year-old father of five, Ali Hussain Sibat, is imprisoned in Saudi Arabia where he has been convicted and sentenced to death on charges of “sorcery” after an appearance on a television show. Not always for a situation as dire, American passports are coveted for a variety of reasons.
Warren and Andrea Goff came to America from England in 1986 when Warren, a computer engineer, was transferred here by a U.S. company. Andrea says, “We planned to stay for just 2 years, but his job lasted longer. I was unable to work on our visa, but Florida had also become our home.” Because of tax issues and their love of the sun and fun here, both of the Goffs set about becoming citizens. Their journey took patience and commitment, but finally paid off in 2003. “We first had to attain our green card,” Andrea continues. “It took 6 years and Warren’s company had just lost their contract and he would soon be unemployed. When asked our church to pray, the green card came through on the Friday before his official lay-off on Monday! We then had to wait five years to become citizens.”
Well known both here at home and on the international ice-skating scene, Nancy Mariani, Director of Skating Development with Saveology.com Iceplex began her life in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. She shares, “I had been coming here with my family for a long time before we settled here 20 years ago. It became important to me to become a citizen because I wanted the opportunity to have the same rights as everyone else.” Nancy’s process took about a year and a half of background checks, paperwork and interviews about American History and Government. She says the day ten years ago was a terrific payoff. “When we actually got sworn in, it was a very emotional and wonderful moment!”
Andrea says, “Warren and I are thankful for the opportunities afforded to us through life in the United States. Having traveled the world extensively, we can truly say, ‘There’s no place like home.’”
Joyce agrees, concluding that, “The Naturalization Ceremony was very exciting for me. It gave me goose bumps to know that I had become a U.S. Citizen and really belong to this country in every way that matters.”