This story is part of the “My Story” series by The Young Leaders. 

It was a sunny morning in Haiti on January 12, 2010 – the first day of school after winter break.

Lying on my bed, I looked at the trees dancing on the ceiling.

The neighboring rooster crowed as I finally rose, put my knees on the floor and began to pray.

My mother, as always, was cooking eggs.

She spoke to me about education: “Son, you have to do well in school to succeed in life. Life and education are a competition. Please son, do not embarrass me. Avoid the wrong crowd. Promise me that good things will happen. Make your family proud wherever you go.”

The author as a child. Photo Credit: CarlHenry Isidore/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)

As she spoke, I wondered why she told me these things.

At the time, I wasn’t mature enough to understand, so I agreed just to make her happy.

A few minutes later, I arrived at school. Already, I had fallen in with the wrong crowd, paid no attention in class, and decided not to do my homework.

After school on that day, I played marbles with friends until one of the elders in the community saw me playing and scolded me to go home and do my homework.

I listened to the elder and went home.

When I got there, my mother asked me, “Where were you?”

I replied, “Outside,” as she shook her head, obviously worried about that I was not following her instructions.

One hour later, the earth started trembling.

I heard a noise like boulders falling from the sky.

Our television and bookshelves fell to the floor.

I was terrified and thought my life would end.

The aftermath of the 2010 Haitian earthquake. Photo Credit: RIBI Image Library (CC BY 2.0)

We tried running away from the house, but the ground was shaking intensely.

I didn’t know what was happening.

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I thought about all the advice my mother had given me.

I heard people screaming from outside, running everywhere and trying to save others stuck under demolished houses.

When I got out of the house looking around, I realized my mother and I could have been in the same position.

After the 7.0 shock-wave, my mother, my sister and I walked on the street and saw the catastrophe. Roughly 300,000 people were killed in the event and 1.5 million were displaced.

People had lost their families and everything they owned.

We were too afraid to sleep in the house, scared it would collapse.

We had no choice but to sleep on the street. The streets became beds for everyone when it’s was night-time. Aftershocks shook the ground every five minutes.

A week later, my father came from New York to get my sister and me.

I had never imagined myself leaving Haiti but there was no other choice.

I cried, and hugged my mother tightly.

In tears, I said, “Mother I’m sorry for everything. I will succeed; I will learn English and make you proud.”

My dad smiled.

I realized I would do everything in my power to make my parents proud. That moment would drive me for years to come.

When I came to America, I was ready to excel in school.

The author as a child in Haiti.

I knew no English, and communicating in school was extremely hard.

I started reading and writing to improve my English skills.

I knew I wanted to attend college.

I started working harder in classes, coming to school early every morning to study subjects that I needed to give closed attention, so I would not fall behind students who took their English for granted.

I challenged myself to become better in school by practicing for the SAT on my own and doing extra work in class.

It paid off. By the time high school came, I was in the English Honors class and the National Honor Society.

I started an acting program in high school named DreamYard Art Center. I began acting in plays with the goal of becoming an actor and a director.

I want to continue being successful and I plan on working very hard to accomplish my goals.

These goals have already helped me to achieve things I never imagine I would have achieved, such as acting in front of 300 people.

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These skills will continue to help me as I pursue my education.

I am currently a junior studying Social Work at CUNY York College.

My goal after achieving my bachelor in social work is to go for my master in education policy.

I want to start my career as a school counselor, however I would like to elevate myself as a principal as time progresses.

After my studies, I want to build a school and an art program like DreamYard Art Center in Haiti for children.

My purpose in pursuing higher education is to succeed in ways victims of the January 2010 Haiti Earthquake only dreamed about, since they never had a chance to make their dreams a reality.

When I succeed, my goal is to start an art program in Haiti for teens that want to pursue their dreams.

This terrible tragedy led me onto the right path and made me focus on my education.

But Haiti is still in my heart. And I’m going back home.

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