My Three Lives

Some may describe childhood as a happy and non-stressful period filled with cartoons and birthday parties. However, my childhood was quite unusual, and to some extent, filled with fear and loneliness. It all began when I was seven years old living in Washington, D.C. As an only child, I relied on friends and close family members as my source of happiness. Then I had to transition from a privileged and crowded city in the United States to Colombia, an underdeveloped country. Not only did it have a completely different language and culture than I was used to, but its community and traditions were unfamiliar and took years to adapt to.

Colombia is known for its insecurity and political corruption, the fear of either getting kidnapped or robbed on the daily made me uptight. 

Regardless of the dangerous circumstances and helpless future I had in Colombia, it helped me discover my passion for athletics and languages. I made unique friendships I never thought I would have encountered, and despite the adversity and bullying that my younger self was challenged with by being American, I learned to love the country. However, my dad felt otherwise and did not believe in the feasibility of having a prosperous future in Colombia. Our family was separated while he made an effort to provide a sustainable income on overseas trips as a private chef. We then recognized his nomadic lifestyle became a burden, and although the United States was not an option to move back to, Canada welcomed us with open arms. This meant moving again and leaving the traditional and conventional Colombian life I worked hard to build.

I found that Canada had traditions and customs very similar to those in the U.S., but with the change of environment since Colombia, I yet again had to face a very daunting transition. Enrolling in a new school again had appeared an impossible change, no one quite understood me, and hardship soon became a setback rather than a challenge with a solution.

Although my outgoing personality had been able to initiate friendships and passions, the absence of support from friends and family made me feel once again lonely. Despite these changes, I learned to be more self-sufficient and took these experiences as not only life lessons but opportunities many do not have the privilege to obtain. 

Although it was difficult experiencing these moments firsthand, I have built connections and interests I could not have made elsewhere. The new and distinct cultures have allowed me to strike up conversations with those around me and to be the person that I am today, learn new perspectives due to my multicultural background, and overcome my personal biases or preconceived notions about a topic, culture, and lives of people.

I take my childhood optimism, with a mindset to grow, learn, and not fear the challenges ahead. I know I will emerge stronger, and it will all be an exhilarating ride despite the setbacks and agony encountered. Some may believe my story contains unfortunate conditions to grow up in. However, it has forced me to improvise, adapt and overcome more than anything ever could. This has helped me perceive complex situations uniquely as they do not have to dictate the outcome of one’s life as it is about the journey and path one decides to pursue.