I was born in San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic, where I spent the first nine years of my life surrounded by family, love, and a sense of belonging that made every day feel special. My mornings were filled with the sound of loud music echoing through the house, the aroma of fresh coffee drifting from the kitchen, and sunlight slipping through the crooked blinds onto my bed as I stared up at the zinc roof. At 7 A.M., the whole house came alive my grandparents and mother moving through the rooms, relatives stopping by to grab a cup of coffee before sitting together in the backyard to talk and laugh. Life there was calm, simple, and peaceful, yet full of meaning and connection. Growing up in that environment taught me values that have stayed with me to this day. From my family, I learned the importance of love, unity, and resilience. From my community, I learned empathy and strength the ability to support one another no matter what. Those early years in the Dominican Republic shaped who I am and gave me a deep appreciation for the warmth of family and the beauty of small moments that make a place feel like home.

When I arrived in the United States, everything changed. It was an overwhelming shock everything around me was twice as big, louder, and more crowded than I could have imagined. The buildings seemed endless, the streets never quiet, and even the air felt different. At the same time, I was dealing with the loss of my father, which made this transition even harder. I was a child in a new country, surrounded by a language I didn’t understand, while trying to overcome the pain of grief. I often felt lost and frustrated, as if life was moving too fast and I couldn’t catch up. On top of that, it was incredibly difficult to be away from the rest of my family. I missed the warmth of their presence, the familiar voices, and the sense of safety that came from being surrounded by them.

School was difficult. There were so many people from different cultures and languages, and most importantly, I didn’t understand English. I couldn’t understand my teachers or my classmates. I remember sitting in class by myself, trying to follow lessons while my classmates seemed to know exactly what to do. One day, at a family party, my cousin who had been in the United States longer than I had spoken to me in English. I understood him but couldn’t respond fluently, so I replied in Spanish. My mother’s husband, who was sitting next to us, then said to me, “Tú tienes que aprender inglés porque esto es América” (You have to learn English because this is America). People around us started making fun of me, commenting on how I didn’t know the language. But my mother speak up for me and she said “Ella va a aprender en su momento indicado” (she’s going to learn in the best moment for her). That moment stayed with me because it made me realize how challenging it was to navigate not just a new language, but also the expectations and judgments of others. But at least I had my mother who supported me in that moment of vulnerability.

After that day, I became even more determined to learn English. I started studying harder, paying close attention in class, and practicing every chance I got. I would listen carefully to how people spoke around me, repeat words to myself, and watch shows or videos to improve my pronunciation and understanding. It wasn’t easy there were many moments of frustration, but I refused to give up. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Slowly, I began to see progress, and each small success motivated me to keep going. I am not the best at English, but I’am still learning, everyday learning something new and not closing my self into one bubble.

The values I learned in the Dominican Republic became my foundation in this new environment. The resilience I grew up with pushed me to keep trying even when things felt impossible, I kept trying hardly and giving the best of my self to improve in something new. The empathy I learned from my family helped me understand others who were also struggling with their own challenges and even with the same struggles as me. And the strong sense of family I carried within me reminded me that I wasn’t alone and that I had someone who would be there to support me, even when I was far from home. I applied these values in school and in my everyday life helping other students who didn’t speak English well, staying patient with myself when I made mistakes, and finding strength in community whenever I felt out of place.

School and home both became places where I had to constantly fight to be understood and felt like I belonged. Every day was a struggle to learn, communicate, and assert myself despite mistakes, humiliation and ridicule. These experiences made me more determined to master English and to find my own voice and embrace my voice in this new path I would follow for the rest of my life.

Over time, I began to see how the lessons from my past and the challenges from my present came together to shape who I am. The girl who once felt silent and out of place found the courage to speak, to adapt, and to keep moving forward, guided by the same values that once made her childhood in the Dominican Republic so meaningful. Today, I am still learning and growing every day, continuing to improve my English and my confidence. There are moments when I still make mistakes or feel unsure, but I no longer let that stop me. I can now express myself, communicate with others, and share my story without fear. What once felt impossible has become part of my strength proof that with effort, patience, and resilience, I can overcome any challenge that comes my way.