What is the meaning of HOME?
In this project through Next Gen Radio 鈥� a collaboration between NPR and member stations 鈥� we highlight the experiences of people in the state of Florida.
Sophie Diaz speaks with Aura Gardu帽o about her experience as a recently naturalized U.S citizen. For Gardu帽o, Florida has been home for over a decade, but being naturalized allows her to put down roots in a new way. She finds herself with a new sense of security in her home state, while still being able to share her culture and traditions.
For Aura Gardu帽o, obtaining her U.S. citizenship after 18 years of living in Florida allows her a newfound sense of security. Her updated status offers her the opportunity to create more permanent roots and be her authentic, colorful self.
Aura Gardu帽o was worried about a number of things the day of her naturalization interview and ceremony, but her hair was a priority both before and afterward. She tied her hair in a way that would hide her previous dye job, wore natural makeup, toned down the colors of her clothing and hid her piercings. Normally, Gardu帽o is expressive with her outfits, pairing bold colors with bright makeup. She usually adds a small heart in eyeliner on her cheek.
鈥淲hen I took my naturalization exam, I was terrified of any small thing,鈥� Gardu帽o said. 鈥淢aybe they think like, oh, we want, we don鈥檛 want this undesirable person to be a citizen, so we鈥檙e going to reject the application.鈥� With a paper declaring her a citizen of the United States, Gardu帽o has reclaimed her vibrant style.
鈥淣ow, I have rainbow hair.鈥�
Gardu帽o has lived in Florida since the age of 4, after moving from Mexico City with her parents. She鈥檚 22 now and took the plunge to become an American citizen after holding a green card for three years. On December 19, 2023, Gardu帽o took the civics exam and underwent her interview in Royal Palm Beach, Florida.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a small room for what feels like such a[n] enormous step,鈥� Gardu帽o said.
As a young child, Gardu帽o didn鈥檛 know her immigration status. She said her father took care to make sure she didn鈥檛 live in fear because of it. She remembers asking if she and her family were immigrants.
鈥淎nd my dad鈥檚 like, yeah, but you鈥檙e fine,鈥� she said.
Despite her father鈥檚 efforts, Gardu帽o became aware of her status and made a conscious effort to assimilate and avoid any typical stereotypes of immigrants.
鈥淚 focused on American knowledge, American history, the English language in particular,鈥� Gardu帽o said. 鈥淚 tried to do everything I could in my power to not create an accent. I almost dropped my Spanish altogether.鈥�
By the seventh grade, she could recite the presidents of the United States in order. Through middle and high school, she competed against students from other schools, answering questions based on American history in the Academic Games Leagues of America. Gardu帽o took sixth place in the national competition and second place statewide. She took an interest in politics and international affairs, and volunteered by canvassing for a gubernatorial campaign and two efforts for the House of Representatives.
鈥淧eople hate voting, I know they do. People hate politics, I know they do. But me registering to vote, I cannot begin to explain to you the feeling of 鈥榳ow.鈥欌�� Gardu帽o said. 鈥淚 get to put something towards that when before I would have to say to people 鈥� when I would be canvassing 鈥� and I鈥檇 have to tell people 鈥楬ey, I can鈥檛 vote, vote for me. Be my voice.鈥� I have a voice now. That鈥檚 insane.鈥�
Gardu帽o keeps the folder from her naturalization ceremony in her parents鈥� house. She said it contains copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, along with a message from the current president.
鈥淪o I had one that said, 鈥楢 message from President Biden.鈥� And it starts off with 鈥楳y fellow American鈥�. And I started crying,鈥� Gardu帽o said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been 15 years and hearing 鈥楳y fellow American鈥� 鈥� I never thought we鈥檇 get here.鈥�
Gardu帽o鈥檚 lengthy wait isn鈥檛 an entirely unique experience.
According to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, non-citizens are required to spend at least five years as a lawful permanent resident or LPR. Depending on their birth country, non-citizen applicants face varied wait times. Applicants of Mexican origin spend an average of 12 and a half years as an LPR.
Gardu帽o said she voices her concerns about American politics, but she hopes her peers don鈥檛 see her open criticism as hatred of the country.
鈥淚 want to improve the system 鈥� the system that has offered me and my family so much. I want it to be good. I want it to be better.鈥�
So I had one that said, 鈥楢 message from President Biden.鈥� And it starts off with 鈥楳y fellow American鈥�. And I started crying. It鈥檚 been 15 years and hearing 鈥楳y fellow American鈥� 鈥� I never thought we鈥檇 get here.Aura Gardu帽o
Gardu帽o said she feels she has come too far to leave Florida.
鈥淚 feel entirely at home in Florida,鈥� Gardu帽o said. 鈥淭he work I do goes into the community. If anything, I鈥檝e actually been really upset at some of the orgs I used to work at that have pulled out of Florida because this is my home. And I鈥檓 like, 鈥榳hy are you looking at us like a lost cause?鈥� Get back in here. We need to do the work.鈥�
Within the last three years, Gardu帽o has graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in political science and moved into her first apartment.
鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 a Macbeth mentality of there鈥檚 no way of turning back now after everything that鈥檚 happened.鈥�
Gardu帽o splits her time between Orlando and Jensen Beach, where her parents own a Mexican restaurant and she works serving a few nights a week. She also helps with administrative duties when her parents run into any language barriers. She said the restaurant is decorated 鈥渁s Mexican as possible.鈥� Most of the furniture is sourced from her parents鈥� home, and the multicolored alebrijes (figures commonly incorporated into folk art) on the restroom doors were painted by Gardu帽o.
Her family has taken large steps to cement its place in Florida, including her parents鈥� effort to purchase a home, her recent move and her family鈥檚 business, Gardu帽o said. 鈥淔lorida鈥檚 my home, even if people don鈥檛 want me here.鈥�
Gardu帽o has a newfound sense of security after her ceremony. 鈥淎nd I think, if anything, that鈥檚, that鈥檚 what home is, you know? The feeling of being safe, the feeling of having structures, of having roots.鈥�
Sophie Diaz, a student in the electronic journalism program, is in her senior year at the University of Central Florida. Her goal is to tell people鈥檚 stories, helping them and others who might relate to them feel less alone. She is currently a reporter for the University of Central Florida鈥檚 Knightly News program. Sophie is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, and you can often find her on a run.
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