For those of you that don’t know anything about me, here is a little background about myself...

    In late December of 1994, I left my home country Honduras and headed for the United States.  Speaking only Spanish, I dreaded going to my new high school in Hartford.  After moving to Connecticut, enduring a difficult freshman year at school and adjusting to a new language and culture was extremely frustrating.  My mother thought that if we moved to the United States my chances of getting a better education and life would be better for us.  Initially I did not agree with her decision, but I did not have any other option.  The thought of moving to the United States and not having any family to support me really scared me. 

                When I arrived at my new high school, I did not like the school at all.  On top of that, I had the language difficulty literary and literacy.  I still remember that all I wanted to do was to stay home.  “I’m not going back to that jungle,” I remember telling my mother.  As time went by, I began to look at things from a positive point of view.  Eventually I adapted to the system, and I started to learn the language.  Even though English is not my native language, I feel proud for being able to overcome this language barrier and becoming bilingual.  I may not speak or write English perfectly, but I’m sure able to understand and communicate very well.  Making it through high school was one of the most important achievements, since I’ve been in the United States.  Most importantly, I have learned a great deal about a new culture and have grown to love the United States.

                My mother is always telling me not to give up with my goals, but sometimes I get so disappointed at everything.  The main inspiration in my life has been my mother.  She is the kind of person that makes sure that I stay in the right track, and makes sure that I give my hundred percent effort to everything.  This is why she has so much influence on me.  Though sometimes not everything is as perfect as I want it, and things don’t go exactly how we want, we are always able to work these things.  When I was 8 years old, I used to think that my father and my mother were my heroes.  As I continued to look at how my family was deteriorating, and how we all were going our different ways; I didn’t know if I should love them, or hate them.  I blamed them for what happened, but then I think it was better off living separated.  Living with my mother for the past 10 years has definitely changed our lives as a whole.  Not even their divorce affected the relationship with my father.  I know one thing for sure; I’m very lucky to have both of them with me.  And I thank God for it.