--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I came to America, I was already a…" description: "\"When I came to America, I was already a writer, already published in Bosnia. I was planning to go back, but I had no choice but to stay here after the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/aleksandar-hemon-1490_america_when-i-came-to-america-i-was-already-a-w_1873792.jpg" --- # When I came to America, I was already a writer, already… ![“When I came to America, I was already a writer, already published in Bosnia. I was planning to go back, but I had no choice but to stay here after the civil war, so I enrolled at Northwestern in a master's program and studied American literature.” quote by Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/aleksandar-hemon-1490_america_when-i-came-to-america-i-was-already-a-w_1873792.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/aleksandar-hemon-1490_america_when-i-came-to-america-i-was-already-a-w_1873792.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/aleksandar-hemon-1490_america_when-i-came-to-america-i-was-already-a-w_1873792.jpg) > “When I came to America, I was already a writer, already published in Bosnia. I was planning to go back, but I had no choice but to stay here after the civil war, so I enrolled at Northwestern in a master's program and studied American literature.” [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes how forced migration turned his existing writing career into a new academic path in America. **In simple terms:** War forced him to continue writing abroad. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes migration identity education Mood reflective determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - academic enrollment - literary publishing - cultural integration Key Concepts diaspora resilience literary adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How did the war reshape your creative voice? - What role does place play in a writer’s identity? A Different Perspective May overlook emotional trauma of displacement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-literature/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Bosnia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bosnia/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Northwestern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/northwestern/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard in America as a writer of color, an actor of color, not to get caught up in race and culture. 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Our lives provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/even-if-you-tried-to-extinguish-your-personality-what-is-left-in-the/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [To me there's no difference between a book of stories and a novel - they're just slightly different shapes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/to-me-there-s-no-difference-between-a-book-of-stories-and-a-novel/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [Lord, why did you leave me in these woods?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/lord-why-did-you-leave-me-in-these-woods/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [I want to change something. 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