I applied for residency papers when I was 12 years old and then at 17 years old I managed to enter this country. I wanted to do it, but in reality it is quite hard to separate yourself from people that you love. I had to leave behind my mother, my brother and my whole family. In the moment of decision, leaving is a change that we think is normal, but when the day comes, we can see how hard it is to separate yourself from your family. Doing that is probably something you would never have done otherwise. You have to be strong enough to be able to adapt. I know I have a bright future ahead. I want to be able to help my family and get ahead, grow into a wonderful woman, and get us all together again.

The positive aspects of coming to this country are having peace and tran-
quility. I remember all the danger and harm in my country and coming to this country has brought good things to my life like teachers, friends and
mainly the union with my dad. When my dad came to the United States I
didn't see him for several years. I lasted several years without seeing him, 9 years without being close to him. As it turns out, I really wanted to be close
to my dad again. He fell in love with a woman who brought me to this country and now, being an 18-year-old teenager, I am finally living my life next to him. The move here was very hard for me because while I was going to be
close to my dad, I was going to leave my mother and my brother. Separating
myself from my mother and my brother, which I would never have done
otherwise, was one of the biggest challenges in my life so far. I miss them a
lot and my aspirations are that we will all be together soon. I found out after
leaving that my mother was pregnant and knowing I couldn’t be with her
hurt me a lot. The weird thing is though that at the same time I felt happy
because I wanted so much to see my dad manage to do it.

Separating from my family caused me sadness and at the same time happi-
ness because my dream is to be someone great in my life to be able to help my family and I know that I can do that here in America. Love is shown in various ways but I think mine was the best. I have a boyfriend in the Dominican Republic who came to this country with me. I thank God that we are together. He is a person whom I admire and appreciate. I am very grateful to life for allowing me to come to this country, which on the one hand was a little hard because I left my mother in my country, but at the same time was a wonderful change. I am together with my father and my dream of coming to America is also to learn the language that is English and be a young entrepreneur in the United States.

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