Life As An Immigrant: In Search Of The American Dream

Growing up in the Islands of the Bahamas, I dreamed of coming to America for a better life for myself and my family as a little girl. I had no idea how to attend college in the United States or how it would be financed. What I believed as a nine-year-old is, it was possible. I would be a first-generation college student, the youngest of six children. I held on to the belief that hard work and determination would be the catalysts to propel me to a brighter and more fulfilling future. A better way of life that could not be possible laden in island poverty. My dreams and the reality that awaited me in a foreign country as a 20-year-old were a million miles apart. My mother, Mavis, taught me that 'thing' that does not kill you makes you stronger. Life in America ensured I had many near-death experiences. I had to navigate the waters of discrimination, racism, unconscious bias in the workplace, brokenness from failed relationships, heartbreak, poverty, welfare, abuse, suicide, and betrayals. The path led me to where I am, and it was not easy; it has shaped the woman I am today. My story takes you through the journey of my life as an immigrant in America. It is a story of faith, resilience, forgiveness, self-acceptance, perseverance in the face of adversity, and a guide to speaking your truth-a guide to legally coming to America and navigating the immigrant course. I am proud of my heritage and being a brown girl, for it is who I am.