Floriselda: Achieving the Impossible
Meet Floriselda!
Floriselda just recently graduated from Contreras Learning Complex, and she is a recipient of the SRLA Scholarship. Read on to learn about SRLA’s impact on her education.
Before SRLA, I felt excluded in high school because of my legal status and because of my age. I came three years ago from Guatemala. In the beginning, everything was hard: the language, the classes and not having someone to talk to about all these new changes here in the US. So, after 1 year of being here, I thought about joining a sport in my school, however, I didn't know that my age would be a problem.
I am 20 years old, and I am barely graduating from high school. This is because in my country, Guatemala, I did not have the opportunity to go to school. After sixth grade, my dad decided I should start working since he did not make enough money to maintain my little siblings. He also couldn't afford my school expenses. So, I started working to help my siblings to at least finish their sixth grade.
“I always dreamed of having a career, going to university, and becoming a professional. ”
After I came to the US, I started going to school. I started attending Miguel Contreras High School; I was scared because of my age. In some high schools, they don't let students over 18 graduate. I talked to the principle, and they allowed me to get my diploma. Even though I got the opportunity to stay and graduate, I could not participate in any sports in my school because of my age. Sports are only for students under 18, however, I still wanted to be part of a sports club. So, when I heard about SRLA, I thought that was my chance to be included in a group, to be part of a team, and to make friends. It was in tenth grade when I heard about SRLA, but by then the team was already made. Thus, in my junior year, I decided to work fewer days at my part-time job after school, and I joined SRLA.
“SRLA has allowed me to belong to a team, to create friends with different ideas of life, and to become closer to the city of Los Angeles.”
Because I have run all over the city, I now feel more familiar with the place I am living, and I feel like I have made friends all around the city. The SRLA experience has made me realize that there will always be someone there that will have the door open for us, even when it seems like there is none there. As an immigrant, I could say there will always be lack of opportunities for me due to my legal status, gender, age, and social class. SRLA is one of those programs that gives me hope since I feel involved and counted not for my legal status but for my effort, commitment, and responsibility. I know that wherever I go, I will hear a lot of “No” and “You cannot.” However, I will keep looking for opportunities and looking until I can find a place where I feel included. I have learned that as a first-generation student I still need a lot of things to learn and explore.
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