It all began on January 26, 2023, when I arrived at the Consulate to initiate the process of immigrating to the United States. The realization that the moment I had longed for had finally arrived filled me with happiness. However, intertwined with this excitement was a sense of nostalgia, knowing that I would soon bid farewell to my friends and family. Parting ways with my grandparents, with whom I had shared a home since childhood, was particularly poignant.

On February 17 of the same year, my visa was approved. Returning home
with approval brought a mix of joy and sadness. While I was elated to have
crossed this milestone, the prospect of leaving my homeland didn't evoke
the same excitement within me. I cherished the remaining days with my
loved ones, spending time with family and friends almost daily, trying to hold onto the feeling of closeness. Despite my reluctance to leave the Dominican Republic, on my last night there, I found a glimmer of acceptance for the impending change in my life. However, bidding farewell to the place where I had experienced countless moments of happiness was undeniably difficult. Gathering with friends for a final goodbye offered some solace, yet as I returned home, my grandmother's request to sleep beside her for the
last time weighed heavily on my heart, making sleep elusive.

As the departure day approached, packing my belongings felt like com-
pressing my entire life into boxes, each fold symbolizing a piece of my past. Turning away from my tearful family in the kitchen, I felt a wave of despair wash over me, realizing the magnitude of leaving behind everything famil-
iar to start anew in a foreign land. Upon arrival in the United States early in the morning, my paternal grandmother greeted me with a bouquet of flowers and balloons, bringing a momentary sense of joy amidst the melancholy. Reuniting with my aunt, who understood the depth of my emotions, provided much-needed emotional support. Although my relationship with my father remained distant, my aunt had become my anchor, offering a sense of belonging in this new environment.

Navigating school and encountering new faces, I experienced unrequited
love and unexpected self-reflection. Despite my initial reservations, the
journey to the United States has reshaped my perspective in profound ways.

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