Meet Dulce: Navigating a New Life in America
Heidi Sebourn
Dulce is a 17 year old from Mexico who made her journey to the United States just five months ago from the day of the interview. She left the dangers of her home to move to America with her mom, dad, brother, and sister. When asked why she came to America, she responded “We decided to come because where I live there is a lot of crime and you can no longer go out at all”. She also stressed about how she could not continue her studies because of the environment as well.
Thankfully, Dulce has found happiness in her new home in the US, even though she admits to missing the taste of every food from back home. She also thinks back to her childhood fondly. She remembers kindergarten, where she learned to read, write, and do basic math. And one of her proudest moments when she was chosen in middle school to represent her school in academic competitions.
Dulce feels most comfortable with those who speak her first language as there is a lot of comfort in talking to someone without language barriers. So far she has had a positive experience at Cleveland High School as she reports that “All the people I have met, for example the teachers, have been patient with me when I don't know the language and I have learned a lot thanks to that.” She also shares that the students are super kind.
Unfortunately, she has been struggling with the task of learning English, particularly speaking it. Despite her efforts, she acknowledges that her lack of understanding hinders her academic performance, with grades sometimes failing to reflect her real intelligence. This is particularly hard for her, as she has been an honor student all her life.
Dulce admits that she is shy with interactions with new people, regardless of if they speak her first language or not. Yet, she is not shy when it comes to her pursuit in academic growth! She dreams of being a chemist or biologist. Currently her favorite classes are US History with Mr. Quick as well as Business and Marketing with Mrs. Person.
Along with her academic work, Dulce finds happiness in the simple pleasures of spending time with her family or going for a run. “My future goal is to be able to finish a race.”
