My name is Jacqueline, [I am] a daughter of immigrants and former farm workers. My parents originally Mexico, later migrated to the United States. I was born and raised in North Carolina with my ten siblings.
Growing up, there wasn’t always much to do [especially when] many of my older sisters often went out with their friends, and the large age gap made it harder for me to be included. [So], I spent most of my time playing active games with my brothers.
Before we had access to WiFi, those games became our main source of fun and creativity. Because of this, I grew up bonding more closely with my brothers, while my relationship with my sisters, especially the one closest in age who was still eight years older, felt different.
This shaped who I am today, someone who naturally connected more with boys during elementary and middle school. Because of this it had made me have less friends than others since I couldn’t relate with other girls. Over time, though, I’ve started to embrace my “girly side” and have built close friendships with other girls, which has helped me grow in new ways.
I currently attend early college high school, where I enjoy learning and spending time with friends, especially when we get together to play volleyball.
What excites me most about starting this program is the opportunity to meet new people, build friendships, and explore more of Levante as I continue to grow and get comfortable with new experiences.