My parents have always worried about me and my siblings and have done their best so that we have the joy of moving forward and fighting for our dreams. They share wise advice: "Be independent, fight for what you want, while we are alive, we will give what we can so that you can continue studying.” Those words help me fight every day and not give up.

I remember very well when I was studying in Guatemala. My mother had prepared a surprise for me. That night my mother was waiting for me. With a smile, she told me, “I want to give this to you as a sign of love and gratitude for you always being with me helping me in everything, even knowing that you have homework, because your birthday is very close, and because you are making school work.” She gave me a box. I opened it to see a chain with the Virgin of Guadalupe. My mother told me, "This is because I'm not with you 24/7 taking care of you. This is so that nothing happens to you along the way." It may sound illogical to many: why so much emotion for a chain of the Virgin of Guadalupe? Well, for me it is valuable since I come from a family that believes in miracles and in the things of God. My great-grandparents were Catholic, as is my grandmother, my mother, and me. It has given me strength. I have gone through bullying, discrimination, struggles in my life, but for each obstacle in my life I have prayed and have found strength.

Soon the school year was almost over. I had many questions: What will I do now? But above all, where am I going? Who am I? I was barely 17 years old and I had to work and become independent. I wanted to continue studying, but now I needed to pay to continue my studies. But my parents also wanted to help pay to support my studies. You see, in Guatemala there are fewer possibilities of finding stable work and a good salary. After many months I still couldn't find a job. I was desperate to help my mother financially. I decided to come to the United States where my father lives. My mother didn't want me to because the road was dangerous, but I wanted to help my family. My departure from Guatemala came so fast. The date to say goodbye arrived. Goodbyes are really difficult, but I had to be strong. I had 17 years with my mother. In the blink of an eye I had to say goodbye without knowing when I would see her again. I remember that before giving her the last hug I asked her to please hold my necklace to give me her strength. It would be the most valuable thing that I would take with me. It would be like having her with me. It took me a month on the road. When I arrived in the United States, I saw my father again after many years.

I have carried my valuable gift that my mother gave me every day since. Even now I am not used to being without my mother and my siblings, although I know that my father helps me with everything and is there for me. But I will always need my mother, her advice, and of course the hugs and her kindness. I have been here in the United States for four years. I can say that thank God and the effort made by my father and the great opportunities that this wonderful country has offered me, I am getting ahead and with the little work I do, I help my mother whenever she needs me. I am achieving many things that I had not achieved in my country. Guatemala is my country, my land, the place that saw me grow. I am proud of who I am and where I come from, but I am also grateful to the United States for offering opportunities to all the young people who have come for an American Dream. Thank God for giving me the opportunity to be here, my parents for always trusting and believing in me, and Lowell High School for giving me the opportunity to graduate. More than ever I know that I will help my mother, I will strive to be a better person and daughter for my parents every day. I want to be a good example for my siblings. Today I can say that I achieved my goal of making my parents proud and I learned that the obstacles are tests that I must overcome and achieve every day. I am thankful for the chain of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It makes me feel close to my mother and my siblings. The wise advice of my parents helps me to be more inspired every day, and to be stronger.

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