I smiled when you called my name
I shed a tear, when they called me names
I'm feeling happy to have met folks
that looked beyond the way I looked
I never thought I'd be feeling ecstatic
I feel like world has come my way
Finally, I can look at you in the eye
and say, your words don't bother my
self esteem, my history, my pride
I smiled when you called my name,
Now, I don't shed tears when they call me names!
impromtu Feb 2, 2000, age 22!
Talking Bits | Friends | Boriquita | Poetry | Coqui | New Jersey| Ex-Member of the ICC
Currently I work in the full-time world at Legal Services, I am taking care of a beautiful baby boy! He was born early and rushed in August, 2004, by cesearan section. Now, I am expecting my second baby, and I'm blogging about it in Multiply, http://boriquita.multiply.com. . I am a graduate student of Montclair State University. In May of 1999, I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree at the same school. While I was in college, I made the Dean's list, one semester, I was the recepient of the North Ward Center/Puerto Rican Scholarship, Fall of 1998. I was the Second Vice Chair of the Alliance of Educational Opportunity Fund Students of New Jersey which represented about 13,000 college students, during 1997-1999. I was Peer Leader, Math Tutor, held different positions in the Latin American Student Organization, and the Human Relations and Leadership Development Institute (Educational Opportunity Fund Student Leadership Corps). I became involved in the Career Development Program as a Mental Health Specalist Trainee at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.
Allow me to tell you about my family background. As the youngest of four children, I was the only one born with a cleft lip and palate. My mother and father separated when I was four years old. Being born with a cleft palate was one of my biggest and hardest problems to deal with since I was young. Ironically, many more of my challenges began when I moved to Newark from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, in 1985. My mother thought that I would receive better health care and more opportunities in the states. In my little world this became a bigger place, for more mishaps, bigger errors, and more suffering!
I came here almost at the end of my second grade year, I was placed in second grade again, because my I did not complete the year in Puerto Rico. Completely ahead of my classmates, I was able to get excellent grades, and learned English quick. By the time, I reached fourth grade, I was in a classroom in which English was the only language. "Yo quiero estar en ESL," I thought when the teasing began with the fourth grade boys. I was called bubble lip, and worse with the years, the names became Marielip and Cash Register. I felt much loneliness, and sadness! I didn't do anything to deserve the alienation and the pointing fingers.
My high school experience became different, once I started Junior year, I started to join different activities, and clubs. I began to socialize more, and the natural, energetic first grader that I was. My attitude changed, and I finally began to feel different. I learned that it wasn't about the way I looked, but what I did, how I spoke, and who I knew, and what I thought. During the summer between junior and senior year, I had my first high school crush, my feelings of insecurity got in the way. We never persued a relationship, and the question, "Do you have a boyfriend?" began to drive me up the walls. I had good excuses, 'I have no time', 'I'm concentrated on my career goals', 'men are dogs, who wants to deal with them anyway!' The list can go on! right girls!
I graduated at the top ten percent of my high school class, but I did not have the SAT scores or the financial support to attend college. EOF was there and I began my college education through the pre-freshman summer program. In college, I was more expressive, I thought! I also rediscovered my faith in God, and began to seek him, in different ways. I learned that God somehow listens to me. I am depressed often, but I try not to let it get to me. What isdifferent? That I actually had a boyfriend for one month, what made it worse that it reaffirmed the fact that men shouldn't be trusted.
Currently, I'm working on what to do for future plans, and I may more surgery scheduled someday. It has been delayed numerous times. Some might say, you are one brave girl! The most difficult task at hand, was becoming a Christian for ICC. On July 2001, I began to study the bible. Now, it was my turn, I had to learn to listen to God. Then, I learned about cults, and mind control, checked out www.reveal.org. I am in a continous striving goal, in order to educate the world and everyone better, and things are happening for me spiritually. For more information about my experience with the ICC, got to www.oocities.org/morelia78/exicc.html.
Despite of the numerous challenges, I faced while growing up, I look forward to each day, to check my box of surprises, and to read anything educational! I urge you to do the same! :)
with much love, Marieliz a.k.a. Boriquita