Daniela

“My grandmother was always dancing. Every weekend she would go to a dance academy, and she loved to dance at parties. We were really similar, similar in the way we dressed, the things we liked, and in our love for dance. My grandmother was always there for me, especially in high school, which was one of the most difficult times of my life. I think it’s something that happens to many teenagers, that you don’t feel comfortable with yourself and the things that surround you. I didn’t like my school, I didn’t like my friends anymore, and I didn’t like myself. I stopped doing things I used to enjoy. Things were tough, but at least I knew I had my grandmother. She used to keep her distance in fear of bothering me, but she still always showed me love in her own subtle ways. She would always give me help when I needed it, and made life more fun by dancing with me. I didn’t know it then, but those were the last years of her life. When I was in 10th grade, my grandmother passed away. I had relied so much on her constant presence in my life without even realizing it, and without someone like her to rely on I felt lost. I stopped dancing a few months after my grandmother’s death, but eventually I learned to hold on to her memory. She still lives in my heart and that motivated me to graduate high school last year. Now, I feel more free and happy. I just came to New Rochelle a few weeks ago from Mexico. When COVID is over, I hope to take a gap year in Australia and then go to college. And I think I’m going to start dancing again too.” - Daniela