It took me 14 years to become an American citizen. I'm voting in a presidential election for the first time.

Courtesy of Conz Preti

• I moved to the US in 2010 for grad school in New York City.
• I planned to return to Argentina and continue my career there.
• I'm married to an American, and we are raising our three kids together.

When I applied to a master's degree program in the US, I didn't plan to move permanently.

I thought I'd attend Columbia Journalism's 10-month program and then move back to Argentina, where I had left a boyfriend, my cat, a fully furnished apartment, and every member of my family.