My Journey Through Ellis Island
By: Beth Matusiefsky
Honors II Physics
November 2, 2009
Symbols of the “American Dream”
A symbol of hope, freedom, and the American Dream.
A symbol that an immigrant’s long, treacherous journey
was almost at a close. I saw the Statue of Liberty. As I
stood there and marveled at the Statue, I put myself into
the shoes of an immigrant. I tried to imagine what it must
have been like to suffer for weeks on an overcrowded ship
in steerage (third class); but to then see a symbol of
American hope, I imagine that it must have felt like a
relief. Just looking at the statue, I was filled with a feeling
of joy and optimism. I realized how many millions of eyes
had been laid upon the Statue and felt the same way that I
did.
As the ferry approached the dock at Ellis Island, I
was surprised at how beautiful it was. The
architectural features of the building were amazing.
It was much larger than I had originally envisioned.
It was beautiful. The turrets caught my eyes and so
did the many windows.
The Registry Room
As I walked into the Registry Room, there was almost an eerie feeling as I thought of
the millions of immigrants who crowded here in hopes of a new life, and a new world. I
was overwhelmed. The room was huge, and although it was quiet that day, I could only
imagine standing there, with my family, packed tight with thousands of others seeking
passage into the new world. I could hear all the different languages combining and
swirling around me. I could almost feel the anxiety that many of the immigrants felt.
Then I thought of how scary it must have been to be alone in the room. I thought of how
brave the newcomers were. How intimidating it must have been
Walking Around
As I walked around learning about Ellis Island
and immigration, I walked into the same rooms
where immigrants took tests and were
quarantined; I walked through the same cramped
hallways millions walked through. It was a truly
chilling experience.
The immigrants walked from place to place in a
single hallway, hardly getting fresh air, or being in
the sunlight. I thought about how difficult it must
have been for them. There must have always
been an abundance of people in the hallways at
all times. The hallways are small enough when
there are hardly any people in them, but with
hundreds at a time? That seems unreal. I
thought about how intimidating it must have been
for a foreign person to walk up and down the
corridor in a single hallway, with many doors on
either side. It must have been especially difficult
for those who did not speak English or were
separated from their families. All though there
were many people at Ellis Island that day, there
was a spooky kind of quiet in the halls.
What They Carried
During my journey through the museum at Ellis Island, I would
have to say that one of my favorite exhibits was the exhibit of the
belongings that the immigrants brought with them from their old
countries. It was amazing to see all of the handmade goods.
From the goods that I saw, I realized how much love and time
went into making the goods. I really liked looking at the clothes
and appreciating the different styles from the many countries.
Even though I enjoyed looking at all of the items, I especially
enjoyed seeing those brought by Polish and Irish immigrants
because I am both Polish and Irish. The items that stood out to
me the most were the painting of the Black Madonna (Mary of
Poland), and the Irish prayer book.
Looking at the different items, it occurred to me that
not only did the immigrants bring over material objects,
they brought over their faith and religion, and tradition
as well. I was great to see that after their long journeys
they still had their faith. And, it hit me, if it weren’t for
the different traditions that the immigrants brought over,
America would not be the melting pot that it is today. It
was great to see the tradition, faith, and love shine
through all of the belongings in the exhibit.
Final Thoughts
Throughout the day at Ellis Island I was
surrounded by many years of history and
hundreds of visitors. But most importantly, I was
surrounded by the millions of footprints, countless
stories, and the spirits of our ancestors. During
the day there was not one minute where I did not
have chills thinking about all of the great people
that walked through the “Gateway to America”. I
constantly thought of those who made it to the
new land, and also those who were not as lucky,
and did not pass further than the hospital or
quarantine rooms on Ellis Island. I thought about
all of the stories and the reasons why people
emigrated to America: war, poverty, religious
persecution. I realized how lucky I am to live in a
world of opportunity; a world of freedom. The
day at Ellis Island was a truly rewarding
experience for me. I enjoyed learning about the
immigrants: their stories, trials, and triumphs.
But the one thing that I enjoyed the most, was
walking in the same building, the same hallway,
the same path, and the same footsteps as the
immigrants who came seeking a better life, and
the American Dream.
The End of My Journey