How is the Transition Process for Adolescent Immigrant Students?

Adolescent immigrant students are confronted with multiple challenges as they make the transition to life in America. If these challenges are not dealt with properly, the adolescents suffer from learning and behavioral problems in the short run, and psychological and social problems in the long run. Much of these problems stem from a feeling of isolation; many adolescent immigrants leave their parents and other close relatives behind, and often, they live with people they do not really know. As a result, the adolescents are left without an adequate social support network. At the same time, the adolescent immigrants sometimes bring with them heavy emotional baggage; they may feel grief over what has been lost in moving, and the moving process itself can be quite strenuous. On top of all this, adolescent immigrants are forced to deal with the day to day problems of…adolescence! Adolescence is a vulnerable stage of life often marked by conflicts with parents, peers, academics, social life, etc; these problems are only exacerbated by the isolation associated with immigration. This leaves adolescents feeling alone and unhappy and thus makes it difficult to adjust to their new schools and communities.

For adolescent immigrants, one of the most difficult aspects when it comes to dealing with their problems could be the struggle to communicate their frustration because of the language barrier. Sometimes, this language barrier issue has the worst impact on the brightest students because it holds them back from enrolling in the type of classes that would match their high abilities. Once they are held back, the adolescents fail to live up to their potential and the disappointment they feel leads to even poorer academic performance. As for adolescents of sub-par intellectual abilities, learning anything in school is a major hassle, so many end up dropping out.

In order to prevent adolescent immigrants from falling through the cracks, it is helpful to have them join immigrant transition support groups. Studies show that immigrants who participate in these support groups are more likely to attend  school and earn good grades. This is because these groups allow adolescent immigrants to know that they are not the only ones dealing with transitional problems. It fosters a sense of community and friendship that provides adolescent immigrants with optimism about life in America and the strength to solve any issues that stand in their way.