Sorry

My name is Cassandre Martinea. I’m 14 years old, and I am Haitian.

When I was in Haiti with my family, friends, and others, it was the best life ever. When I was in my country, I used to go to the rivers with my friends, have parties with my family, and go to school every day as usual. Weekends were one of my favorite times because I used to walk with my friends in the area, go to church every Sunday, and spend time with my parents.

One day, my parents told me that because of the situation in Haiti, I had to come to America. It wasn’t a good idea for me because I didn’t see a way of living without them. They told me that it was the best opportunity for me, even though it was painful. For the first time, I had to leave my mom, who is so important to me. I was really stressed because I didn’t think I would be able to live without my mom at such a young age.

I came to the United States on November 28, 2023, and I started a new life. Everything was different: new areas, culture, food, different schools, but I adapted. It wasn’t easy, but I survived, and I am still adjusting to life here. I used to feel alone because I didn’t speak English. I was shy, but I made some new friends and started to learn the language. Everything is better now, but I still miss my parents a lot. The wonderful memories from Haiti will always be in my mind, but I accept my destiny and won’t let it stop me. I look forward to a bright future in the U.S. and to one day reuniting with my parents.