Learning to Love & Loving to Learn

Siempre que estemos lejos, solo mira arriba y estaremos bajo la misma luna. These were the words I was compelled to tell my mother as we’re bound to separate yet again. “Whenever we are apart, just look up and know we’re both under the same moon”. Since the age of six, these are the words I have held dear in my heart, longing for each familial reunion. Looking back at my past, spending most of my life traveling between places, I have learned to appreciate things on a much larger scale. From the dearing touch of my mother, to a compassionate friendly classmate, everything can disappear at the blink of an eye. 

Growing up in the Dominican Republic was paradise. The little town of Bayahibe was made up of natural springs, white sandy beaches, and deep green forests where my older brothers and I would spend hours getting lost and making our way through, back to our tiny home. Made out of wood and collected Tin sheets for a roof, we were a small family that did not come from much, but there I had everything a child could ask for. Never went hungry, my mother made sure of that by working several places at a time. Never was alone, for my older brothers were always by my side and when you live in a small town everyone somehow is your Tia or Tio. Never was bored, for I would spend hours and hours between the beach and spring waters pretending to be a little guppy. And although surrounded by beautiful natural sights, my paradise composed of a single individual. My mother. Through her actions, I learned everything I now know about what it means to love others. 

Having my eldest brother, Luis Enrique, at only eight-teen years old, she put her own life at pause just to unconditionally give it to her kids. Not too long after came my older brother, Luis Miguel, and then me, the baby of the family. Vamos que van a llegar tarde!! “Let 's go, you’re going to be late!!” As a single mother of three, she worked ten times harder than any other parent I knew just to make sure my brothers and I were fed every single day and always made it to school on time. Despite having several jobs, and raising three children on her own, she somehow gathered up the courage to attend night school and finish her GED. Watching as she sacrificed so much for us but never gave up on herself or her own dreams, planted the seed from which I would learn to love others unconditionally and more importantly myself as well. 

Ay mi amor, ven acá,  she would say as she returned from her classes and found me patiently waiting under the late night sky, “Come here my love”. Grasping me into a warm hug, she would lay me to bed sharing stories of the interesting lessons she would learn during classes. Looking back, I can say this is where my passion to learn began. Unfortunately, I had to depart from my paradise at a young age. Departing from my caring brothers and countless Tio’s and Tia’s, departing from the beautiful springs and nature, departing from my mother….. 

I left everything behind, but that spark for knowledge will always be within me. It is this same spark for learning and compassion to help others that has led me into pursuing a career in the psychology developmental field, specializing in education reforment. With every new lesson I learned, the thought of giving back and improving the lives of those around me is what keeps me moving forward.