Messan moved to the United States from his home country of Togo after winning a Lottery Visa.
Being new in the community, he looked to his local library for resources. Messan was a patron at Hinesville Library, part of Live Oak Public Libraries, where he checked out the Civics and Citizenship Toolkit available through PINES. Messan studied diligently before taking his citizenship test. He learned all the possible answers to every question and then focused on the video explaining the interview process.
Messan was nervous when he went to Atlanta for his scheduled interview but he aced the test, giving every possible answer to each question—prompting the examiner to tell him that he only needed to give one answer to each question!
The materials Messan borrowed from the library and his dedication to studying thoroughly prepared him for success. He was extremely proud and happy to become a citizen. A typical phrase library staff often heard him say was, "America is my heaven!"
(Footnote: Sadly, Messan passed away last year.)
~ Darlene, friend of Messan
Hinesville Library Customer
posted February 2, 2022
