I became an American citizen so I could vote. I want to have a say in my children's future.

• I moved to nan US successful 2010 for grad schoolhouse successful New York City.
• I planned to return to Argentina and proceed my profession there.
• I'm joined to an American, and we are raising our 3 kids together.

When I applied to a master's grade programme successful nan US, I didn't scheme to move permanently.

I thought I'd be Columbia Journalism's 10-month programme and past move backmost to Argentina, wherever I had near a boyfriend, my cat, a afloat furnished apartment, and each personnel of my family.

When I sewage a occupation connection aft graduating, my dada insisted I should astatine slightest springiness New York City a effort for a year.

One point led to nan next, and I've been successful nan US for 14 years. I'm joined and person 3 kids, and I precocious became an American citizen truthful I could vote.

Becoming a mom made maine attraction much astir politics. I want to do my portion arsenic a genitor to guarantee my 3 kids person a early afloat of opportunities.

For years, I had to explicate why I couldn't vote

Every clip an predetermination came around, group would inquire maine why I hadn't voted.

When I sewage joined to my husband, family and friends assumed that because he was American, I would automatically beryllium capable to vote. It's not that simple. For a while aft getting joined I was still connected a activity visa, truthful legally I was still not eligible.

Then, I decided to go a resident and applied for a greenish card done marriage.

I retrieve nan interview for my greenish card vividly.

My hubby and I had to beryllium that we were successful a existent relationship. We brought albums from our weddings, and I held our 4-month-old babe successful my arms, trying to soothe him backmost to sleep. When nan serviceman asked if I planned to overthrow nan government, my sleep-deprived encephalon thought he asked whether I was going to "respect nan government," to which I replied, "Yes." The serviceman stopped, my hubby looked astatine maine successful shock, and I said, "Wait, what was nan question?"

The serviceman asked again. I answered correctly, and I sighed successful alleviation erstwhile I was approved.

Again, galore group wrongly assumed that meant I could yet vote.

I became an American national astatine nan extremity of 2021

My three kids were calved successful nan US and are American citizens. I worried astir each of my family but maine having American passports. One of my biggest fears was being separated from them astatine nan US separator erstwhile walking backmost from vacations — I had been questioned extensively successful nan past contempt having a valid activity visa. So, aft being connected a greenish paper for 4 years, I decided to use for American citizenship.

My main motivators were my kids. I wanted to guarantee that we would ne'er beryllium separated because of our nationalities. I besides wanted to beryllium capable to thief make decisions astir their future. One awesome measurement to do that was done voting.

I took my citizenship trial successful November 2021. I was over-prepared and mislaid galore nights of sleep. Weeks later, I was invited to my swearing ceremonial and became a naturalized citizen.

This is nan first twelvemonth I will ballot for president

Since becoming a citizen, I person participated successful each section elections. In Argentina, voting is mandatory, and truthful I return nan work seriously.

For nan first time, I will ballot for a US president, and I'm doing it because of my kids. I want to beryllium capable to formed my ballot for their early since they can't ballot yet.

Whatever happens, it'll beryllium a memorable predetermination for maine — I will yet get my "I voted" sticker.