One of the things that made me separate some of my friends from my
life was when I realized that they are only with me to seek a benefit
from me. They were doing many things that were not right. I knew
this. After a while, I sat down to talk to myself. I said, “This is not right, those
things that they are doing are not right.” I began to see these friends as peo-
ple who do not know what they want in life. The things that I wanted to do I couldn’t do by being with them. I wanted to achieve big goals and I knew
that I needed to put my actions into practice. I knew that I shouldn’t let
anyone delay me from moving forward. So I moved forward without them.

At the beginning of arriving in the United States, I had a difficult time be-
cause I left my sister and my grandmother in the Dominican Republic. At the same time, I was very happy because I was going to see my parents and family that I had not seen for a long time. As time went by, I felt alone be-
cause I didn't have anyone to spend time with me and explain to me what things were like in the United States. I had to be strong and understand things. I asked God many times to help me because I had a lot of negative
thoughts in my head. I started school and at first it was very difficult for
me because everything was in a new language and I had to learn it. I felt
very stressed but then I understood that I came to the United States for a
better future, a new life, and a new beginning As time went by, I made new
friends who I thought were going to be like brothers, but then I realized that
they were only with me, like my friends from the past, for their own benefit.
When they needed something from me, I pushed them aside because I felt
like they were getting in the way of my life.

I spent an uncomfortable time in Lawrence Massachusetts when I lived
with my dad and my stepmother because everything I did bothered her. I
talked to my mom and explained how things were, she understood me and
then I made the decision to come live with her. I had a sad time when I moved to Lynn Massachusetts because I left my little brothers but I felt hap-
py at the same time because I was going to live with my mom and my sister. Today I am who I am because of the decisions I made to move myself out of
the pathways of bad things. I had a new beginning when I entered school. I
made friends that I consider brothers who are with me today through thick
and thin and I feel happy because their friendship has helped me to adapt
to new things and new ways of life. I was able to find a job. I spent some
time working, but then I had to leave work. I never gave up and kept moving
forward.

As time went by, my mother got married so she could bring my little sis-
ter from the Dominican Republic here to the United States. I thank God for everything and for the beautiful things that he gives us every day. Here in
America, and with God, I am able to see a new dawn and a new beginning
every day.

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