As part of the My Journey Home national outreach project, students throughout the country were invited to enter an essay contest about their "journey home." The essay, which could be audio, video or print, had to tell a personal story about what it is like to be an American, or the personal journey the writer has taken to be an American. The following multimedia essays were submitted to UNC-TV by Central Carolina
Community College's Television Broadcast Production Technology
Department as winners, finalists and honorable mentions for the My Journey Home essay contest.
Winner
My Journey Home-British Immigrant
Produced by Christine Parker
This is the story of Maureen
Parker. She immigrated to America with
her husband Joe some 40 years ago. This
story is about her journey from England to the mountains of North Carolina. The feature explores the challenges this
military wife faced adjusting to a new life in America, often without her
husband, who got orders to fight in Vietnam.
Christine Parker brings us this journey home.
Finalist
The Journey of Doug Arevalo
Produced by Alan Roberts
This is the journey of Doug
Arevalo. From a young boy in El Salvador to the distinction of being the first
college graduate in his family and one of the first Hispanic graduates of
Information Technology at Central Carolina Community College. Alan Roberts has this young man’s tale of
achieving the American dream.
Finalist
The Long Life Journey/102-year-old Emma Snipes
Produced by Kai Smith
Many people don’t get the
opportunity to sit down and hear their great, great, great grandmother, but one
student did. He brings us his granny’s journey from a small child in the cotton
fields to becoming a woman respected for her wisdom and faith. Kai Smith brings us this truly American
portrait.
Honorable Mention
America, My Home/From El Salvador
to America
Produced by Kristin White
It’s hard for most people to move
from state to state let alone from country to country. Kristin White shows us one man’s journey
from El Salvador to becoming a citizen of the United States.
Rocky’s Fight for Freedom
Produced by Wade Headen
This is one man’s story of life,
love and the pursuit of religious freedom.
Wade Headen brings us this feature of how a Pilipino immigrant followed his
heart to America and found freedom and a new home.
My Journey Home/The Native
American Experience
Produced by Damion Lee
What does it mean to be an
American? For Native Americans the
answers are sometimes hard to define. Damion Lee explores the Native American experience from the view points
of two tribal elders.
This is the story of Maureen
Parker. She immigrated to America with
her husband Joe some 40 years ago. This
story is about her journey from England to the mountains of North Carolina. The feature explores the challenges this
military wife faced adjusting to a new life in America, often without her
husband, who got orders to fight in Vietnam.
Christine Parker brings us this journey home.
This is the journey of Doug
Arevalo. From a young boy in El Salvador to the distinction of being the first
college graduate in his family and one of the first Hispanic graduates of
Information Technology at Central Carolina Community College. Alan Roberts has this young man’s tale of
achieving the American dream.
Many people don’t get the
opportunity to sit down and hear their great, great, great grandmother, but one
student did. He brings us his granny’s journey from a small child in the cotton
fields to becoming a woman respected for her wisdom and faith. Kai Smith brings us this truly American
portrait.
It’s hard for most people to move
from state to state let alone from country to country. Kristin White shows us one man’s journey
from El Salvador to becoming a citizen of the United States. 
This is one man’s story of life,
love and the pursuit of religious freedom.
What does it mean to be an
American? For Native Americans the
answers are sometimes hard to define. Damion Lee explores the Native American experience from the view points
of two tribal elders.