The country's situation collapsed, and an uprising of political opposition to the President compounded Venezuela's humanitarian and economic crisis. Inflation soared, and food prices rose higher and higher every single day. I saw how people, especially the elderly, starved, salvaging food from the garbage to feed themselves. It was heartbreaking to see my country fall into ruin.
It was difficult to coordinate meetings with friends since the outside was not safe. My belongings were stolen several times while I was walking on the street. We were never able to enjoy the day freely.
Many Venezuelans lived in poverty, causing many people to emigrate, including my family and me. We, like many others, had no choice but to pack our stuff and leave our home country. It was the toughest decision we ever made. I left my home, my friends, my childhood, and everything I knew behind.
In 2017, at the age of 16, I split paths with my parents and sister since I decided to come to New York independently while they moved to Hong Kong. This is where the most challenging time of my life unfolded. I began my high school year as a sophomore. The school style and culture were all foreign to me. I was a stranger in a new world.
The most challenging obstacle was being undocumented at the time. I remained silent for so long, and I even went through a long depressive episode due to my circumstances. I had no proper identification. I kept myself locked inside for extended periods of time and missed my family so much.
I was fortunate to have met a teacher who supported me throughout my high school years. I shared my story with her, and she was caring and kind to me. We became really close, and eventually, I met other great teachers who saw something special in me. One day, I was matched with a social worker who connected me with a public organization located in Manhattan. This organization provided legal services that changed my life forever, pairing me with many professionals who helped me with my immigration status. I needed a guardian to clear up my issues, and one of my social studies teachers elected to become my mentor and school mother. She was willing to help me and signed up to be my guardian for the case.
The process was tough, and the case lasted for two years until I was in college. I faced so many obstacles up to that point, and I often doubted myself and wondered if I should give up. Thankfully, every ounce of time and effort was worth it. I got support from unexpected people and places, which I am forever thankful for. This arduous journey changed my life forever, and for the better. It's been five years since I moved to America. And there’s no looking back.
From an illegal immigrant to a survivor. Life has different plans for me, and today I am speaking out to my younger self, and to all immigrants around the world, to say that your current troubles are only temporary. It was not easy to begin a new life alone and isolated from my family, but tough times have made me grow and inspired me to climb higher to achieve my dreams.