Yes, I Did It

 

       Yes, I Did It 

         Talking about myself isn't easy; especially because I was born and raised in a country which considers women inferior. I was born and raised in Mexico, a beautiful country that I love and respect but, also the same country that has a sexist society. Mexico is a country where the male is always the leader and he is the one who gives orders and the woman must obey. Even though as a little girl I heard that women are worthless, as a child I always knew that this idea was not true. I have always believed in the equality of genders. Men and woman are equal and have the same rights.

        I believe that education is power. Education is the only way that people can improve their quality of life. Unfortunately for many people it's not always possible to achieve access to education, at least not in my country. As a child I dreamed of one day studying to be a doctor or a lawyer, in fact I still maintain this dream. I know in my heart that someday I'll make it. This is the real reason that I never give up. Even if the circumstances were not the best in my childhood, I have put my best effort in my school grades.

        The highest honor for any student in Mexico is marching with the flag. I earned this honor for my excellent grades. I was very happy to see my name on the wall of the smartest students. When I was a child, it was a pleasure to do my homework instead of going out to play with my friends. Even though I was very proud of my school successes, sometimes I felt sad and lonely because my parents never supported me or gave me any compliment. I still got my best academic effort until one day.........

        I had just finished the tenth grade and it was dinner  time.  We were all together and my father told my mother it was very difficult to maintain five children and send to school so, he had decided that one of us had to leave school. When he said my name I felt the world was falling on me.  It was terrible, I felt miserable. My dreams and illusions  were broken at that moment. Everything I had fought was gone. I still remember with tears in my eyes when I asked him why me; his answer was worse. He said that women are not important like men, so they don't deserve the right to go to school. That was the last time my father allowed me to talk about it; and at that same time I knew that my fate was uncertain.

        My fate was uncertain until September 2010; when I made the best decision in my life: To start studying at Mercy Learning Center. MLC is a non-profit organization that helps low-income women to get access to education. Every year more than eight hundred woman come to study at this school. The school is supported by donations. They are always looking for tutors, volunteers and donors. MLC taught me to read, write and speak in English, that was a new language for me.  At the beginning it was a challenge for me to learn a new language. But such was my hunger to excel that, step by step I was gaining the power of knowledge.  The National External Diploma was my big opportunity to get my High School Diploma. NEDP is a special program offered in MLC to people who have a high score on their CASAS tests. I finished the program in six months, displaying Science, Math, History, Grammar and computer program skills; finally on December 17, 2014, I got my precious reward- my High School Diploma.

         Like flash lights, many memories came to my mind at that moment. Memories of my childhood when some people told me that I was worthless for the simple fact of being a woman. Memories of my father saying that school was over for me. Finally the spell was broken. It was broken with the key of knowledge and hope, with the key of my own pain. I cried, I cried a lot, but now my tears were of joy and hope. Now I realized that I always had the right. I will not let myself say otherwise because, now I have the proof: My High School Diploma and my college entrance. At the same time I took and successfully completed my Certified Nursing Assistant program with excellent grades. Now I'm sure I'll be able to begin my career in a few years. I'm ready for this big challenge, why? because now I feel stronger, happy, sure of myself. Now I'm sure that dreams are fulfilled for people who dream and work hard to achieve. It was possible for me. Now I can say yes, I did it!