My Teacher Wished I Would Go Back To Where I Came From -Tatjana Bozhinovski

When a teacher told Tatjana Bozhinovski that she wished she would go back to where she came from, she was shocked and alarmed. The experience ultimately shaped one of the most important decisions in her life along with others who didn’t speak English. “That moment felt like a punch in the gut. I started to think that maybe I was a terrible student simply because I couldn’t understand my teacher or perform the way she expected,” Tatjana, an immigrant from North Macedonia told Deba Uwadiae, Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of New Americans magazine. Rather than dampening her spirit, the experience ultimately shaped one of the most important decisions in her life. “I decided then that I would dedicate my life to helping people who come to this country from other places, so they would never have to feel the way I felt at that moment.”

Tatjana Bozhinovski

I am an immigrant from North Macedonia and a dedicated nonprofit professional with over two decades of experience serving immigrant, refugee, and underserved communities. I began my career with Columbus City Schools, where I worked for 16 years in the English as Second Language, ESL Department supporting students and families while also teaching Adult English and Citizenship classes.

I later joined Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS), where I held several leadership roles before becoming the Program Director of the Resettlement Program. In this role, I lead efforts to support refugee families in achieving self-sufficiency and successful integration into their new communities. I previously served as the first state navigator for OhioKAN and continued to serve on the OhioKAN Regional Advisory Council. OhioKAN is a flexible and responsive kinship and adoption navigator program designed to assist children, caregivers, and families statewide.

I am passionate about community service and, outside of work, I enjoy volunteering, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

America

My parents, my brother, and I came to America in 1988. Just two weeks after we arrived, I celebrated my 16th birthday. Even though we joined family here, leaving my country was very difficult for me. I left behind a life where everything was familiar—my friends, my school, and all the activities I was involved in.

Coming to America felt very uncertain. Until then, America was something I mostly knew from movies. Suddenly, I found myself in a completely new place where I understood very little of what was happening around me. I spoke almost no English, which was one of the biggest challenges.

At the same time, my parents had a vision. They came here with a plan and a strong belief that my brother and I would have better opportunities in the United States, especially as things back home were beginning to fall apart. Looking back now, I understand the courage it took for them to make that decision and start over for the sake of our future.

School

Back home, I was a strong student and was always involved in extracurricular activities. I had more friends than I could count. When I came to the United States and started school, everything changed. I only knew my cousin. I met a few Macedonian students, but they hardly spoke Macedonian, so they couldn’t really help me.

For a long time, my best friend was a green, hard-cover Macedonian-English dictionary that I bought back home. I carried it everywhere. As I walked through the hallways, I was afraid to look at other students because I worried they might say something to me, and I wouldn’t be able to respond. So, the floor tiles became very familiar to me, and I knew where every crack is.

My favorite class quickly became ESL. There, I met students from many different countries who also didn’t speak English yet. Somehow, even without a common language, we understood each other. I was learning English quickly, but unfortunately not quickly enough for one of my teachers. One day she told me she wished I would go back to where I came from, along with others who didn’t speak English. That moment felt like a punch in the gut. I remember wondering what I had done so wrong for her to dislike me so much. Why wasn’t I welcome in her class? I started to think that maybe I was a terrible student simply because I couldn’t understand my teacher or perform the way she expected.

That experience ultimately shaped one of the most important decisions in my life. I decided then that I would dedicate my life to helping people who come to this country from other places, so they would never have to feel the way I felt at that moment.

It was a painful experience at the time, but it also gave me a clear purpose—to make sure others feel welcomed, supported, and understood as they begin their lives in a new country.

Tatjana Bozhinovski

Columbus City Schools

I spent 16 years working in the ESL Department of Columbus City Schools, and I loved every single moment of it. Having walked in the same shoes as many of the students in front of me, I made it my mission to ensure that every one of them felt loved, accepted, welcomed, and important.

It was truly inspiring to work alongside ESL staff who cared deeply about our students, no matter where they came from or how much English they spoke—or didn’t speak. Our goal was always to create a place where they felt supported as they learned and grew.

From time to time, I still come across former students, and they remember me. Those moments are incredibly special and remind me why this work has always meant so much to me.

ETSS

I first learned about ETSS through a colleague I worked with at Columbus City Schools. At the time, it was only meant to be a summer job, but I quickly fell in love with the mission of the organization.

I later applied to work in the after-school program, and shortly after that I had the opportunity to teach Adult ESL classes, full time. Over the years, I held several different roles within the organization and learned so much along the way.

I have been part of the Resettlement Program since its very beginning, and in 2024 I became its director. It has been incredibly meaningful to grow with the program and continue supporting families as they begin new lives in our community.

Challenges

Since day one, I have never seen challenges as obstacles, but as opportunities to learn and grow. Through this program, I have met countless people from all corners of life, each having faced immense hardships and obstacles. Many remain stuck around the world, with no home to call their own, with cities in ruins, and with the fear of losing their lives and loved ones.

Where we once could help so many build a new life here in America—an opportunity that so many, including myself, were fortunate to have—there are now people who are barred from that chance. Many cannot be reunited with family members already here; for some, the light of hope was snatched away just as they were about to arrive. They are told they cannot dream, they cannot hope, and they cannot live a peaceful life in America.

This reality is hard to swallow. It weighs heavily on me and keeps me awake at night.

At the same time, the resources we once had to help our clients have been significantly reduced or eliminated. While this is certainly a challenge, I like to see it as a bump in the road. We may stumble, but after each fall, we rise, brush ourselves off, and keep moving forward. We continue to fight, to believe in our mission, and to support those who are here and most vulnerable.

Tatjana Bozhinovski and Deba Uwadiae

Immigrant Community

I am so proud to be part of the immigrant community in Central Ohio. I absolutely love the vibrant colors and rich tapestry of Columbus and its surrounding areas. The true richness of this city lies in its diversity! People come from so many different places, and from each, we can learn so much. You can enjoy different cuisine every day, join dances from around the world, and hear countless languages wherever you go.

There is something special about each culture, each tradition, each language, and each individual. This is what makes Columbus great, this is what makes Ohio great, and this is what makes America great!

Unchangeable Fact

The last thing I want to say is that, although we may be going through turbulent times as immigrants and refugees, this too shall pass. America was built by people from all corners of the world—this is an unchangeable fact. While it can be difficult to turn on the TV and not hear messages suggesting we may be targeted in one way or another, I encourage everyone to stay positive and hopeful. The majority of our neighbors care for us, the majority of our coworkers enjoy working alongside us, and the majority of teachers love teaching us while also learning from us. Love always wins over hate.

New Americans magazine April 2026

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