My name is Jaye-Ann Walters. I am currently attending the University of Bridgeport and I am in my freshman year of college. My major is nursing and would like to become a NICU nurse. When I first moved to America, it was completely different from what I was used to. I did not have to wear uniforms anymore, everyone spoke "American English", and the schools up here were much different from the ones in Jamaica. When I first started school here, the first thing I thought about was how I had no friends anymore. I was used to having a lot of friends and family around me at all times, which is why it was a big adjustment for me. Having such a big change at a young age, I tried to adapt to this new environment in any way necessary. As I started making friends, I realized how I kept changing my personality just to fit in with other people. I was slowly drifting away from my culture and creating a facade for everyone to see. As we grow up, we don’t realize what an opportunity it is to be raised in a Jamaican household and as we get older, we realize how much our parents instilled in us. My parents taught me respect, especially towards my elders, greeting everyone as soon as you walk into a room. How to treat everyone with kindness and be on your best behavior when you are out because you are not only representing yourself, but you are also representing your family as well as your country. Working hard in school because we are getting an opportunity some people wish they were able to have. Eight years later and I feel like I have improved so much since 2014, I got a chance to come to the states and make a difference. I am glad that I was raised with respect and values that were taught to me by my parents. Being a part of my community allows me to show how far we can go and how much we can overcome. Never try to fit in with a group of people who are okay with your facade, your true friends are the ones that are okay with the real you. Like the saying " A far we a come from and a far we a go".