THE JOURNEY TO MY SUCCESS
Student was born in the outskirts of El Salvador by Mr. and Mrs. Manuel. Their residence was very remote and we suffered from accessibility to clean water and electricity. Poverty had stricken their family although her parents tried their best to provide the basic needs to her four young brothers and one young sister. Student parents were refugees from Cuba and they had relocated to El Salvador to look for employment in the local maize plantations. Despite their family circumstances, and even though they had never set their feet in school, they made sure that they attended an elementary school in the area. As the elder sibling, student had to take care of her siblings when their parents were busy in the maize plantations. Through this, student grew up understanding the importance of education, hard work, responsibilities and giving back to the community.
Student came to learn about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund through one of her friend, Andrea Torres, who was her childhood best friend. She applied for the scholarship and months later her application was considered. Although she was very young, she had to relocate to the United States of America to enroll for her education at Durbin Creek Elementary School in Florida. The main challenge was that student had no knowledge of English since she was monolingual and Spanish was only the language she was conversant with.
At the age of 12 years, student moved to the USA with the help of Hispanic Scholarship Fund to join Durbin Creek Elementary School. Unluckily, on arrival, she was shocked to learn that the English to Speakers of Other Languages program for the middle school was already full. Student had the passion to learn the language since it was her only breakthrough to her education in the country. Student was in her 6th grade and the thought of quitting was the last thing that crossed her mind. She later taught herself English through watching the television in English with captions on until she understood the language. The struggle was tough and gave her the motivation to pursue teaching as her career to help her community back in El Salvador to learn and speak English. After completion of her 6th grade, she got a chance to enroll for the English to Speakers of Other Languages program in the 7th and 8th grade.
The poverty back at home gave student the strength to work hard in her education and miraculously, in her 8th grade her hard work bore fruits and won an award for best ESOL student in her class. She completed her elementary education and joined high school in 2008. Student put a lot of effort into her education and discipline was the core factor to her success. She later completed high school and passed with good grades that allowed her to join the University of Florida which was among one of her dream universities.
Student currently a university student studying to be an elementary teacher with an ESOL endorsement plus a minor in religious studies. She believes she has a call in leadership and she has joined The National Society of Leadership and Success program as a lifetime member. Student is the current secretary of the Future Teachers of America club in her university and she will be the president of the club in the next fall because all the E-board members are graduating this semester. Moreover, she’s part of the campus ministry club at the university. Student thanks Hispanic Scholarship Fund for the help they have given her and she will be graduating in 2047. Earlier this year, student was inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund alumni hall of fame which was one of her greatest achievements.