Have you ever imagined how it feels like to be ripped apart from your family? I was totally convinced that I was going to graduate, get married and have my kids in Peru; however, destiny had another plan for me. One day, as I came home from school, my mother pronounced those words that changed my life forever: ‘Hijo, nos vamos a los Estados Unidos’. All of a sudden my mother told me we were leaving for The United States, and since that day, my life has not been the same.
There are no words that can express how I felt. My whole life was in Peru and leaving would mean leaving behind my friends, my family and everything I grew up with. Feelings of anxiety and uneasiness suddenly invaded my head, I was afraid. People are not afraid of the dark, they are afraid of what they cannot see, of the unknown; and just like them, I was afraid of not knowing what was going to come next. The thought of a new life simply scared me.
Time passed and February came along, and it was time to leave. I remember spending my last days in Peru with my friends. I said goodbye to my teachers, to the streets where I grew up, to the food that I loved so much and to that park where my first kiss took place; but the hardest of all was saying goodbye to my family. It was hard to get away from the people who saw me fall and encouraged me to get back up again numerous times. Like any other human being, I have been the victim of ephemeral failures and sometimes I wonder if I would have been able to make it up to where I am, without the support of my loved ones. I am not going to lie, I cried as I walked away from them, as I stepped into the taxi and all the way to the airport. However all the tears were gone by the time we were making line to enter the plane. And as I stepped inside it, I realized that there was no reason to be sad, this was not an end but just a new beginning.
I remember arriving in a new world, and as soon as I stepped off of the plane, my ears became filled with a strange sound that I could not understand, the sound of a new language. I came to Florida the eleventh of February of 2007, and I went to school three days after, on Saint Valentine’s Day. Everything was totally new to me, and I will not lie, I got lost in my first day of school. As time passed, I began to destroy all the obstacles that would dare to face me. With effort, persistence and a dictionary, I managed to go from being in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program to join the Dual Enrollment program, where I was allowed to take college classes in advance. I would promptly be recommended for Advanced Placement and honors classes and. All of that was accomplished in one year.
My journey here has been the most powerful event in my life, so far, it made me realize that I could aim and accomplish anything. This endless journey has made me stronger; it taught me infinite lessons and helped me to realize who I really am. It made me realize that it does not matter where I go; I am still the same guy with the desire of triumph and I can be successful anywhere.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
