Michelle from Mexico

The problem began when my father deceived my mother with another woman. My father changed and was very rude to my mom. He beat her and we did not have feelings.  The time came when my dad took put us out on the street and my mother came back with my grandparents. Six years had passed when my parents split up and my story started.

Separated, my mother returned to poverty within one year. When I turned eight years old my mom came to the US and left my brother and me in an orphanage for a year as she passed the border and began to work. The day before we were taken to the orphanage, I remember my mother crying. I asked her what was wrong but she just started a speech like you have to be strong in life and never be sad. I did not understand what was happening.

In the orphanage,I lived unforgettable experiences. I remember there I learned to wash my clothes and be alone.I learned to take care of myself. I also faced my fears in the dark. Every morning we would get up to clean the bathrooms. It was fun because we could play. Another of my experiences was when we celebrated the Valentine dance alone and I remember we got very rich food and I danced with the boy that I liked all night.

Some evenings we went out to play basketball with older women. My experience marked my heart was when I was in danger. I was almost abused in a room. I was afraid and I fought as much as you can yell and teachers listened. The teachers arrived in time. From that moment I had to take care of myself but worst of all is that every day after that moment, I felt more alone.

My life was not easy but everyday I fight to make it better.

Then when my mom got a job she sent us to a normal school but now my uncles would take care of us. The problem was that people were saying to be careful, do not leave your children with them.

Then my mom decided to buy a huge house that we might live alone in, but my uncles controlled all the money my mother sent us. They did not give the money to us.

When my mom found out that we did not receive the money and that my uncles stole it, she decided that she would give the money to us. When my uncles realized that change and no longer received money from my mother, they began to create psychological and physical abuse to us. I remember when I started to make dinner and it turned out a little bad, my aunt  threw it in my face and said I was stupid. I joined my aunt shopping and I forgot the purse with the money and my aunt hit me and cried in front of everyone. I fell dumb and like I didn’t belong. At that time when my aunt hit me, a lady called my mom to tell my aunt hit  me and that it was not good. My mom was not a very bad parent and worked hard for my brother and me but the situation worsened.

My aunt ordered me to wash the dishes. I cleaned the floors, and I did everything. I cooked food very well but I forgot I had to throw away leftovers. She broke all the dishes. She told me to wash the floor and threw the leftovers on my feet. She wanted to take my phone but I didn’t give it her. She started to suffocate me and it was at that moment that I had to defend myself. She scared me and I went out to the city to call my mom. That was my story in Mexico. I’m so glad I did not return to Mexico; however,my journey was not easy.

It was very sad for me. I adored that our village was quiet, it was cool, it was beautiful.

I learned to be humble in this life. My goals for my life after this experience were to see my mom and come to a place to be free. I found the freedom and now I only think about fighting to obtain a career in the United States as a military doctor at Harvard University. There is never any surrender. Life is not so bad we just have to have courage to face whatever comes we can all be better.

After seven years, I saw my mother but it was very different and to see her made me cry. I promised that I would be a good daughter and a good student and I would never leave my mother again.