Betiana
My name is Betiana, I am 15 years old and a freshman at the Preuss School UCSD. I am the middle daughter of a single mother, with two other siblings—an older sister and a younger brother. Although me and my sibling were born in Caracas, Venezuela, my family originates from Haiti. Due to the critical conditions caused by political disagreements and feuds, as well as the economic insecurity and scarcity of food, life had not been easy. I recall my early stages of adolescence, my mom often conversing or worrying about how the bills would be paid, how the food would be kept and how the school fees would be paid.
While in my elementary school I would endure a lot of discrimination from the students because of my skin color–often calling me names that were inappropriate and laughing when I spoke. These experiences did not only occur to me but also to my family who often struggled a lot with how people regarded us. While enduring these experiences at such an early age had been grueling, it shaped the person I am today not only through my sense of resilience, empathic persona but also the ability to advocate for others who are facing similar challenges as I once did.
At the age of 7 I and my family immigrated to the United States for a better life. That moment signified a new beginning of managing cultural differences. Our journey to the United States came with numerous obstacles. For instance, we jumped from country to country in a car. But from Colombia to Panama we walked seven days in the Darien Gap. It had started to become extremely difficult for us, mostly to my mother because of my brother who has the highest level of autism, level 4—she had to make sure he was safe at all costs while also ensuring our safety as well. Every time I think of the struggles I and my family faced was when we were in the Darien Gap. Due to the absence of my father in my life since the age of 2 old I felt deep sorrow for my mother who had to endure this journey alone but we soon arrived in the U.S. safely. These experiences influenced my perseverance and sense of responsibility, but they are only a small part of who I am.
At school, I am involved in many extracurricular activities. One of the clubs I am involved in is Black Student Union (BSU) where we learn the importance of being proud of our lineage and the color of our skin. In Red Cross, we volunteer at numerous organizations such as blood drives and beach clean ups, and more. Lastly in volleyball we play and learn. Right now in high school I'm taking my first AP class and made it to varsity being a freshman. Now that the season ended, the club season started. I'm going to be going to Florida this summer to attend a tournament with my team. Some accomplishment I’ve made through volleyball is making it to the nationals. Additionally I’m also in a community called BLCI. BLCI stands for Barrion Logan Student Institute. It is a place where you go and get your work done. As well as offer classes that teach you about college, mental health, identity and more. Outside of school I have taken particular enjoyment through doing activities such as volleyball since I was in 5th grade, running and work out, and dancing. Through doing these activities they’ve kept me active and helped me develop important life skills like teamwork and discipline. They also give me a chance to build confidence and enjoy myself beyond the pressures of home life.