The USA is a place of much diversity, encompassing a rich tradition of various cultures, traditions and backgrounds. With people coming from places all over the world, they have been able to incorporate themselves into a new culture while maintaining their own culture at the same time.
This is no different at MNHS, where students have been able to proudly showcase their traditions and values. But there’s one group of students in particular who embody a fusion of two worlds, as they proudly embrace their dual citizenship while navigating the complexities of it.
These students who are deeply connected with and exposed to different cultures have the opportunity to learn and grow within multiple different environments.
“Dual citizenship is when you are a citizen of two different countries at the same time. Not every country allows dual citizenship, and the rules vary among those that do,” a 2024 Boundless Article said.
One can obtain dual citizenship in numerous ways. Whether it’s automatically obtaining it because of your parent’s country of origin, securing it after actually residing in a country, or getting it through marriage to a citizen of another country, the avenues to acquire such citizenship vary due to the difference in laws from country to country.
Although the paths to obtain dual citizenship may have been different for each of the following students, the reasons and satisfaction they have with them are all the same. Senior Maya Brilz, who gained dual citizenship in the US and Poland because her mom was born in Poland, got her process taken care of by her parents who were able to work with Polish consultants to grant her citizenship.
“I really like that I have dual citizenship and get to experience different cultures. I like knowing that there is more out there and that just because something is the status quo here I don’t have to follow it,” Brilz said.
Dual citizenship not only offers a sense of pride and belonging, but it also gives students the freedom to explore different cultures as they balance their unique customs. Senior Mateo Rens, who lived in Peru for half of his life and the US for the other half, was able to gain this privilege when he obtained his citizenship with the US and Peru.
“Being able to travel all around the world with multiple passports allowing me to go basically anywhere is the best,” Rens said.
Having two passports helps limit hindrances, making it more convenient for dual citizenship holders to travel back and forth between the countries they hold citizenship in.
“If I went to South Korea for a long time, I wouldn’t have to worry about getting a VISA or anything, so that’s really nice,” senior Sarah Stejskal said, who is a dual citizen of the US and South Korea.
Since many people hold regular citizenship, the dual citizenship that these students have sets them apart from others and holds a special place in their hearts.
“It makes me feel different and unique. I have something that others don’t usually have. It makes me feel connected to multiple cultures and identities,” Rens said.
It not only holds an important value in the hearts of the students because of the way it allows them to express their cultures, but it also allows them to connect with their families that they are geographically distanced from.
“It definitely impacts me, a lot of my family is still in South Korea so it’s definitely part of my identity, and it’s so cool to have,” Stejskal said.
But although it involves great positives, dual citizenship and exposure to two countries for long periods of time can create some complexities.
“I learned Polish and English at the same time growing up so I had to go to speech therapy for a lisp because I would get the words and sounds confused,” Brilz said.
These differences in languages and traditions can make balancing and adapting to both countries a challenging task.
“[The environment] is definitely different all around, the way the people act and literally everything is different,” Stejksal said.
Despite the challenges, these students have been able to adapt and thrive in both environments as they continue to practice and develop their cultures.
While embracing the complexities and unique opportunities presented by dual citizenship, these students exemplify resilience and showcase a rich appreciation for the cultures that define their values and identities.