I am the child of a second-generation American and a Dominican immigrant. My father moved to NY when he was 17 years old. Life for him was hard because he could not speak English and would get into a bit of trouble. My grandparents opened a church and were and still are pastors. One of the lessons they have passed down to us is to work hard and to keep doing what makes us happy. My dad still has his D.R. passport from when he lived there and always talks about moving back someday with my mom when my siblings and I move out. My Dad is also someone to give life advice like to keep working hard in my Police program and to keep pursuing the Army K9 Unit. He also shares stories about his life in D.R. and how it differed from life here in America and how lucky my siblings and I are to live in this year and place like us being able to get the jobs we want in the future or how nowadays people are more accepting. I always agree. I always agree and I really enjoy hearing this and applying it to how I live. I hope to be like him and give my future kid's life advice as he did with me. 

– Kayla Brito

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant