By: Nabi Hamdard

One moment that really stayed with me this month was helping translate for a family who had just arrived and didn’t speak much English. When they first came in, you could tell they were nervous and overwhelmed. There were forms, questions, and information they didn’t fully understand. I could see the confusion on their faces and how unsure they felt about everything.

In that moment, I saw how much language can affect someone’s confidence. When people can’t fully understand what’s happening around them, it can make them feel lost. As I helped translate and explain things step by step, I could see their expressions begin to change. What started as confusion slowly turned into relief. I could hear it in their voices and see it in their body language as things started to make more sense.

This moment mattered to me because I’ve been in that position before. I remember what it feels like to arrive somewhere new and not fully understand the language or how things work. When I first arrived in the United States, everything felt unfamiliar — the people, the language, and the systems. Even simple tasks could feel difficult. Although I was with my family, not knowing the language sometimes made me feel isolated.

That experience helped me understand how important it is to have someone guide you during moments like this. Sometimes just having someone there to help explain things can make a big difference.

This moment reminded me how important community support is. Even small acts of kindness can make someone feel less alone. I’m grateful to be part of work that helps people feel welcomed, supported, and understood in our community.