The wide diversity of American society is on display in the faces of American teenagers. Young people are especially adept at making friends across ethnic, religious, and racial lines. As in decades past, new immigrants continue to settle in the United States, including sparsely populated rural areas, in search of the American dream. Today, Hispanics make up the country's fastest growing minority population with an estimated population of 41.3 million. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July 2004, 240 million Americans identified themselves as white, 39.2 million as black, 14 million as Asian, and 4.4 million as American Indian or Alaskan native.

My name is Cindy Ramirez. I am 17 years old, and I am originally from Mexico City, but right now I am living in Lafayette, Indiana. I arrived in the U.S. two years ago because all my family was living here and I wanted to learn more English. Now that I am here, I am trying to meet new people and learn more English because all my classes are in English.

When I arrived in the U.S. I did not know English very well, but with time and my teacher's help I am learning more. Now I can speak, read, and write more than before I arrived; the important thing is that I need to try to learn more and more. I try to pay attention during any conversation, and I am very focused on pronunciation.

I hope to use all the English that I am studying in the future because I want to go to college and I need to speak and write very well. It is my big dream to go to college.

Cindy Ramirez, 17, grade 11, McCutcheon High School, Lafayette, Indiana [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/McCutcheon]

After two years of studying Latin in high school, I am now using it everyday! Almost everything I say and write in English is derived from Latin.

My favorite part of Latin class is the mythology and history. Using the old fables we translate and the valuable knowledge we gain on culture day (a day at the end of each week devoted just to Roman/Greek culture), I am able to trace the origins of words. In my psychology class, I learned that some prominent theories are named after such tales. For example, Freud's theory [of the Oedipus Complex] is named after Oedipus. In my preparation for the general college admissions test, I use Latin to derive the meaning of words I am unsure of, thus allowing me a greater chance at improving my score.

I can only imagine the day when I can explain Greek culture and mythology, Roman society, scientific roots, and classical Latin religious references. I am taking a class trip to Italy to expand my cultural experiences of Italian history first hand.

Kimberlee Lowder, 17, grade 11, St. Mary's Ryken High School, Leonardtown, Maryland [http://www.smrhs.org]

Every possible ethnic group and faith are represented in the United States, and the fact that it all comes together in the United States and is largely harmonious is really great. There is no way that this can be captured in the media; you have to actually be here to experience it. I have visited Canada, Japan, and Vietnam, where my parents were born. I am glad that I can speak and read Vietnamese, since this is an important aspect of my life.

Huyen Nguyen, 18, grade 12, James Monroe High School, Fredericksburg, Virginia [http://www.cityschools.com/jmhs]

I was born in Mexico. My first language is Spanish, and my second language is English. I want to learn a third language, probably Portuguese or Italian. I am the first one in my family to go to school in the United States.

When I came to the United States, I was only 12 years old. My English skills were very poor. The language was the first problem I faced, and I still have trouble speaking sometimes, but there are people who help me out. The second problem I faced was the culture and a different way of life. The cultures of Mexico and the United States are not too different but still there are some things that are very different. The food, such as the lunch in school, was very different from what I used to eat in my country. With time, I started to get involved with my new lifestyle.

Now I am in my junior year, which means I am in 11th grade. Only one more year and I will receive my diploma. I am planning to go to college in Mexico. I hope you learn something from me and my experiences. Remember that everything is possible if you really want it.

José F. Ponce Granados, 17, grade 11, McCutcheon High School, Lafayette, Indiana [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/McCutcheon]

I arrived in the United States on August 14, 2004. This is the first time I have been among American teenagers, and it is much different than in Afghanistan. I have had a great experience. The teaching process here is different; for example, you choose your own classes, which I think is a good idea. The relationship between teachers and students was surprising to me, because it's a more friendly, free relationship, not as formal as in Afghanistan. That's what I like about it. At the same time, it is important not to go beyond the borders of friendliness and become disrespectful. I see some disrespect of teachers by students, and I really don't like that.

Ghizal Miri, 16, grade 12, James Monroe High School, Fredericksburg, Virginia [http://www.cityschools.com/jmhs]

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