Of many experiences I have experienced, the one that has changed me the most was moving to the United States when I was 15 years old. We moved here with my family, and I never wanted to be here. Leaving my friends behind was very difficult. I did not know English, going to high school, and being bullied for that was the greatest trauma of my childhood. English I learned back in my country seemed like a completely different language and sounded very unfamiliar than what they spoke here. So I had to begin from scratch.

I remember a history teacher having me on the board to present to a whole class when she knew that I did not know English. It was a very painful and embarrassing experience. In the beginning, I used to come home and cry to my parents to take me back home and that I hate being here. My mom used to stroke my head and tell me “you should always have your head up, and prove to everyone how great you are.” These words motivated me so much and I gave all my effort to learn English over the summer before the sophomore year began and I was very eager to do great in school. And I did, I proficiently learned to speak, read, and write in English in two years, and I did excellently in all my classes and became a recognizable student at school. Bullies then stopped bullying me. I’m thankful that I am currently pursuing and continuing to work on my academic and career goals. Coming to the United States has changed me as a person because I learned to be strong, persistent, and passionate about everything I do in life.