Aug. 30, 2002 was the day that my life completely changed. It was the day that I left my family and friends, but most importantly I left my beautiful country of Cuba.
I still remember how hard it was to leave my grandmother’s arms, and it broke my heart when I had to let her go. My parents had left me in Cuba for a year with my grandparents until I had a visa to go to the U.S. In just one day, I went from being surrounded with family to being in what seemed to be a strange new world. I wondered if it was worth leaving the people closest to me. It was hard fitting into a new culture, and it was difficult making new friends. At times I felt lonely.
It has been 16 years since that day, and now I can say that it was worth it.
It was worth it because I got the opportunity to live a better life here than I would have in Cuba. I know if I had stayed in Cuba, my life would be completely different than what it is today.
For those of you who have left your country, family and friends to live here, I hope it was worth it, too. I hope that you can look back and realize all the sacrifices you or your family made are for a purpose.