Sorry

My name is Maria Socorro. I was born in Valencia, Venezuela, on September 10, 2009. In Venezuela, I lived in an apartment complex called Parque Napoli with my mom, dad, grandmother, and older sister. As a child, I attended preschool at a school called Casupo from the 1st to 3rd level. Then, I went to Milagro de Jesús de Nazaret for elementary school, from 1st to 6th grade, and continued high school at the same school until the 2nd year.

Valencia was not a very big city; most people knew each other. In the apartment complex where I lived, I had a large group of friends from around the age of 10. We would always agree to go outside and play, which was very fun. We played hide and seek, tag, soccer, volleyball, and other games.

On weekends, my family and I would always go out to spend time together. My dad was a member of a club in the city of San Diego, where there were parks, swimming pools, and a great variety of sports. It was a perfect place to hang out with friends and family. My dad played softball, my mom played bolas criollas, I practiced volleyball, and my sister didn’t do anything in particular; she just invited her friends.

In San Diego, my paternal grandmother also lived with my aunt (my dad’s sister), her husband, and their two daughters, who are my cousins. Sometimes, I would visit and stay at their house to spend time with them. I really enjoyed going because my grandmother always took us to a park in the residential area where she lived to play, and on Sundays, we would go to church. That was my life in Venezuela before my parents and I had to move to the United States in search of a better life.

After my second year of high school, my parents decided to move to the United States because we were not in a stable economic situation in Venezuela. When we lived there, times were not the worst, but they weren’t good either. My sister couldn’t come with us because she didn’t have a visa or passport, so she stayed with one of my mom’s sisters until we could bring her to the United States.

Unfortunately, Venezuela is going through a crisis due to a corrupt government, which was another reason we had to leave. We saw no future or stability there. I remember all the marches and protests we participated in to try to free Venezuela from a government without democracy. I clearly remember that once, in the apartment complex where I lived, the police arrived on motorcycles and threw tear gas and glass beer bottles at us for protesting and demanding a country free from corruption. Some people were hit by the bombs, but fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

Despite all the difficult and sad moments my country was going through, I still cherish the good times that will always remain in my heart: moments of happiness, love, and joy that make me smile every time I remember them. For example, Christmas celebrations with my whole family, birthdays, trips to tourist destinations in Venezuela, and those family outings every weekend that never failed.

However, due to the difficult economic situation in my country, we decided to leave. My family and I traveled by plane from Venezuela to the Dominican Republic and then to the United States. We obtained a visa, which allowed us to travel without any issues. The entire trip was by plane and took only one day.

When we arrived in Miami, we stayed for a few days with my mom’s sister (my aunt) and applied for asylum here. Later, we moved to Fort Myers to live with another of my mom’s sisters (another aunt), and we stayed with her for a few months until we were able to rent a place of our own. Now, we have been living in the United States for two years and a few months.

Since I arrived in the United States, many things have changed. For example, I haven’t practiced any sports because it’s a different place, and the language makes it a bit more complicated. I’m trying to adjust, and in the future, I want to start practicing a sport again.

I have always been active in sports since I was little. At the age of 5, I took flamenco classes, then between the ages of 8 and 10, I practiced gymnastics and ballet. At 11, I started contemporary dance classes, then tennis. At 12, I began aerial silks, and finally, at 13, I started playing volleyball.

During my time here in the United States, I have attended three different schools: first, a middle school called Oak Hammock; then, Lexington Middle School; and finally, my high school, South Fort Myers. Those are the three schools I have attended so far.

I have always been a dedicated student, and I have always done well in school; I have never had difficulties with learning. When I arrived in the United States and started at my first school, I had no trouble adapting. Honestly, it was a very nice experience. I met great people, and the teachers were excellent. I always did well.

Later, when I transferred to my second school, I felt a little sad because I had to leave my friends and meet new people. However, it turned out better than I expected. I have always been a very sociable person, so making new friends wasn’t difficult for me. As I mentioned before, I adapted very well. When I finished my last year of middle school, I moved on to high school.

This is my first year in high school, and so far, I have really enjoyed it because the classes I was assigned are fun, and I have many classmates to share them with.

For now, my biggest challenge has been learning English, but I am working on improving it, becoming fluent, and understanding it better.

I will keep improving with effort, practice, and dedication. Learning a new language and adjusting to a new environment isn’t easy, but I know I am strong and capable of overcoming any challenge.

My biggest motivation is my future. I want to be able to communicate fluently, have better academic and professional opportunities, and feel fully comfortable in this new country. Also, my family and my dreams push me to keep going.

I know that every small step I take brings me closer to my goals. I won’t give up because I’m on the right path.

This year, my family and I will have been here for three years. It hasn’t been easy, but we have adapted little by little. My parents have good jobs, and I am doing very well in school. We are very close as a family and have a strong relationship. That’s why I know that, even though it’s difficult, we will always find the best way to move forward.