Beludji Narcisse's ’25 journey from Haiti to law school

A recent alumnus of Eastern Connecticut State University has been accepted into the University of Connecticut School of Law after a tumultuous journey from Haiti to the United States. Beludji Narcisse ‘25 shared his story as an immigrant trying to establish a better life for himself, his family, and his community.

Narcisse spent the first 15 years of his life in his home country of Haiti before immigrating to the United States. He explained that while he lived in a safe location in Haiti, his parents often were at work to support his siblings and their education. 

“I was fortunate enough to live in a good neighborhood and go to a Catholic school, but I knew many who were less privileged,” he said. “Some of the public schools in Haiti are not that great. ... I am of the belief that public schools should be the best schools.” 

He continued: “There's a lot of joblessness in Haiti, so if you're not working in the private sector or you're not a government employee, it's going to be hard for you to make ends meet.” 

Narcisse explained that a lot of parents foresaw a loss of democracy, so they sent their children to live in the U.S. following political turmoil in 2016. 

“The political situation in Haiti was getting bad, so a lot of parents, my parents included, came to the conclusion to ensure the future of their children by sending them to study in America,” he said. “That year, at least five people in my class left to live in the States.” 

Narcisse said that the worsening political conditions in Haiti were a large part of what inspired him to go to law school. 

“Everything I'm doing in school, I'm always thinking of Haiti,” he said. "One thing I would love to do if I were to go back to Haiti is contribute to voting rights there and make sure everyone has a voice.” 

Upon arriving in the States, Narcisse gradually learned English and integrated into the academic culture despite enduring various struggles. 

“I was not happy because my parents were still in Haiti. It was a dark time,” he said. “Though I graduated (high school) with a decent GPA, I would later experience homelessness for a couple of months due to my immigration status.” 

According to Narcisse, his time in a youth center is where he would “hit rock bottom and decide to push through to go to college.” 

“I did a lot of volunteer work for organizations like United Way and Windham No Freeze, both of which provide resources for unhoused individuals,” he said. “I also asked my social worker to help me apply to Three Rivers Community College so I could earn my associate’s degree.” 

As an undergraduate, Narcisse continued to study political science and was an active member of Eastern’s campus community, including starring in the theatre program’s fall 2024 production of “The Ocoee Project.” He plans to focus his legal endeavors on Haitian immigrants and securing their citizenship. 

“The Haitian community has grown a lot (in the U.S.), so there's a need for immigration law pertaining to the Haitian community. There's a need for people who can counsel Haitians as they make the journey to America,” he said. “It's one of the things I really mentioned in my personal statement for law school because it touches me personally.” 

He continued: “I hope that my story will inspire every student at Eastern to be passionate about what they believe in and to never give up on their dreams, no matter what they face.”