Final speech 

​

"One language sets you in a corridor for life, two languages open every door along the way."

Hello, everyone! My name is Nadia. I am 28 years old and from Paraguay. I was born in Formosa, Argentina, on January 25th, 1996. My parents are Ramon and Gloria, and I have two sisters, Romina and Mili, and a brother, Magin.

I grew up in a small town of simple people, where everybody knew each other, and the land was farmed to provide us with the food we needed. I remember the long walks on the beautiful beach we had nearby and the joy we felt living in that place. Many would say I lived in a bubble during those early days, but that is not true! I think my safe bubble should be the reality we should always experience.

A place that’s safe and loving has its small pleasures, where people care for each other and have each other’s backs. Each one of my memories holds a special place in my heart, and I will forever cherish them. Time is both our friend and enemy. It can give us the most unbelievable moments, and it can also take them away in a heartbeat. I had a warm and loving childhood for which I will always be grateful.

It is also worth noting that I was lucky enough to meet my best friend Rocio at school when I was 5 years old. To this day, despite the distance, we are still friends, and I would even go as far as to say she is truly like a sister to me.

I have always enjoyed traveling, going from place to place, getting in touch with the locals, and learning as much as I could. I have already visited many countries and tried the cuisine of each one of them. Nevertheless, without a doubt, my favorite food is Paraguayan food: my mother’s and sister Romina's chipa guasu, and my aunt’s vori vori.

The first time I left my family was when I was 17 years old, when I had the opportunity to work as a nurse for 4 years. That’s when I felt, for the first time, that living away from what I knew was incredibly hard. Becoming independent at such an early age changed me! You start to see the world through different lenses. Things become more serious, and there is no safety net to fall back on, other than yourself. These kinds of experiences can either make you or break you. I chose to be made into a reliable professional and, most importantly, a good person.

I came to this country a year ago, at the age of 27, and that’s when I met a very special person who is now my husband, and with whom I am building a new life here in the United States. We had a long-distance relationship for almost 3 years, and after that, I was able to come and settle here with him and his family. Juan became my best friend, the closest person to my heart, and I am happy I have such a wonderful man to do life with. I am also thankful to my in-laws, Mr. Hugo and Mrs. Luchi, for opening the doors of their homes and their hearts to me. From the moment I set foot here until now, they have made me feel like family.

My life hasn’t been as hard as many others who emigrate here, because I had already met my now-husband, and I did have someone I could rely on when I first arrived. That makes a huge difference, and it sets the dynamic of our stay here.

Although the time I have spent in this country has been short—just about 1 year and 7 months—communication has been a challenge for me. It is not easy for me to find my words around people in English. Even now, after having learned so much, I still feel intimidated by the language. I am trying to get out of my head, just so I can give myself the chance to not overthink so much anymore.

When I met the Duran family, who are my husband’s employers, they were always mentioning perseverance to me. At first, I didn’t understand the meaning very well, but little by little, I began to see how continuing to move forward when everything seems lost shows our ability to maintain faith in ourselves and the process. We learn that the road to success is paved with effort, patience, and determination.
Thanks to my husband’s suggestions and my in-laws, I made the best decision to come to this school, and slowly, I began to overcome the communication barriers that had been an obstacle for me. Thanks to this school, I developed skills for effective verbal interactions and acquired tools for my personal, social, and professional growth. Teacher Andreea is my inspiration. Her dedication, perseverance, patience, and love for her students have undoubtedly been of great help. Thanks also to Teacher Alejandro and Teacher Julia for their great contribution to this path I am on.

I want when time has passed, my future self will have had many earth-shattering experiences, and I hope I will still have this booklet so I can browse through it and stop for some moments just to think. Think about how I made it, how I lived, what I wrote, how I helped, how people would remember me, and whether the life I dreamed of was or wasn’t what I had expected it to be. I want to have the clarity of understanding that though it hasn’t been easy, somehow, I did it. Each challenge, each small victory, and each setback will have brought me to that moment of serene reflection and acceptance. That it was all worth it in the end.