My name is Valeria Gil, I am Colombian and this is my blog post. I was born in Colombia, one of the richest countries in biodiversity and rainforest, the leading country of emeralds and gold. Colombia is a country with amazing nature, culture, and people, but sadly it is a place with no access to a future, a good economy, or academic opportunities. In my case, my economy was not bad there, but my dreams were so big that I knew from a young age that I had to choose between me and my country, between me and my family, I had to choose between me and everything that I knew or everything that I grew up with. After my quinceanera, I decided to choose myself and I left Colombia behind. In 2021, I came to the United States and I finally understood a new kind of reality. Nothing was as easy as I thought it would be; but at least, I was finally going to live the “American dream” that everyone was talking about.
American high school opened my eyes to the truth. I came from Colombia to have a good future but everything ended up being exactly the same. Being an immigrant and not speaking English was a clear disadvantage for me. For example, I was in my Sophomore year and my school sent me down to Freshman classes. When I first came to the United States I didn’t know anything, they just threw me into the school system without guidance or explanation. It was unfair, I was new to the country, the language and the culture. Was I supposed to know everything magically? I took the PSATs without knowing what they were, I experienced a simulacrum uninformed of what to do, and I encountered a lockdown clueless of why everyone was hiding. It was unfair because I didn’t even know the meaning of those words at that time, and they were expecting me to understand them. Everything was disappointing. Students not taking advantage of the opportunities that I wanted so badly angered me, they were just skipping classes, fighting, and joking around. I left my family for those opportunities and they had them on their faces but they weren’t using them. Coming to this country changed me a lot, it divided my personality and caused me to lose my own identity. I was dealing with a new environment, new language, new friends, and with a new life in general. The things that I used to be good at, were difficult for me. I felt like I didn’t deserve anything that I had. I felt like I didn’t fit anywhere. I lost my hopes and I lost the dream that brought me to this country in the first place.
After transferring to Classical High School in my Junior year I heard about the Prepare RI program and I saw a big opportunity. That day, I understood that out there were awesome opportunities and people who wanted me to succeed. I took action and I filled all the requirements and interviews. “Congratulations! You were elected” said the text message. From 840 students, just 300 were elected and I was one of those 300. My hopes on myself started increasing again, I realized that I deserved everything I wanted, I just had to start trusting in myself again. The first week, Prepare RI made a boot camp that enlightened my thinking and empowered me again. I finally understood who I was and that I was tired of feeling tired. That boot camp helped to remember who I was before and after coming to this country. It was just one week but I felt each of them as my family. I felt an incredible security there and they created a safe space for everyone. Hearing everyone’s voices, everyone’s dreams and knowing that everyone wanted me and themselves to succeed encouraged me even more. I met people that now are my friends and I gained experience that I never could have gotten.
Thanks to the Prepare RI program I became an Education Services Intern at Rhode Island PBS. Because I am not from this country, I was not totally familiar with PBS and the importance of the company. It wasn’t until I started working at Rhode Island PBS that I understood how integral this company is. Each day was so different and it made everything even more engaging for me, that’s also why I was able to learn a lot of things. I improved my English vocabulary, I learned what it is like having lunch with your colleagues and other interns, I learned to admire people and feel inspired by them, I connected with kids and connected with parents in the Work It Out Wombats! and Family and Community Learning events.
This job showed even more my abilities and motivation to do what I have to do. Rhode Island PBS helped me to understand that different things don’t have to be scary, in fact; changes are what makes life more interesting. On the other hand, I learned that communication, networking and having a good boss is in fact the key for your future. I learned to be strong and give my 100% even if I am exhausted, I learned to give fliers the essence that they are telling, I learned to pay attention to little details. I used a professional attitude by arriving on time, following the company’s dress code, taking responsibility for my tasks and by avoiding social media in working hours. I used teamwork skills by sharing my ideas and helping the other members of my team. I also understood that my Spanish is not a weakness, but a strength.
It is clear now for me how the problem is not the countries, but the lack of access that students have to those opportunities. If it hadn’t been for the day that Prepare RI went to my school, I never would have gained my hopes again, I never would have learned all those things and I never would have wanted to fight for my future like this. Sometimes students just need someone who believes in them, someone who makes us understand why thinking about the future is so important. We are not a lost humanity, we are just youth looking for guidance and support.
