Fatima Diaz is from the Dominican Republic and currently a student at Bates College in Maine, USA
“My life is a gift from God and ever since the day of my birth... I have worked hard to live my life with love and purpose”
Fatima Diaz
I thank God so much for my life. I know that I am living because he wanted me in this world. Born three months premature weighing 2 ½ pounds the doctors intending to save the life of both my mother and I, but thinking that I would not survive. The struggles my family went through for me to live have led me to understand how valuable I am. To think that I had to stay in the hospital long after my mom went home neglected from sun or moon light until I was three months old and strong enough to live as a normal infant would. My life is a gift from God and ever since the day of my birth in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic I have worked hard to live my life with love and purpose.
Being the youngest of three older sisters and being born as part of a different generation than they did I had the opportunity to go to school in the United States. I moved to the United States with my family when I was four years old. While my sisters worked to support their own children I began Kindergarten at the age of five. Ever since my first day in Kindergarten I learned that I should treasure the opportunity to go to school and that I should work very hard to get to college, graduate and become a professional.
I loved school since the first day I stepped into Ms. Garcia’s Kindergarten classroom. I would always pay attention and make sure I learned all that I could each day. My mother did not speak English so I had to try to do my homework on my own even if I did not understand it. Even though my mom could not help me with my homework she kept me company while I did it. I remember my mother standing in the kitchen cooking or washing dishes while I sat in the corridor in front of the kitchen doorway doing my homework.
As I got older I noticed that my parents although they do not speak English supported me in all things involving my education. They attended every parent teacher conference and made sure they knew how I was doing in school. They would always say that they wanted to give me the best that they could and that the best way was by giving me the best education possible. They taught me that without an education you cannot move on to a better place in this life and that no one could take my education away because it is in my mind and heart.
In my culture as in many others, the ultimate success arrives when you get to college and prepare yourself in a field and make a career out of it. High school was a great phase in my life. I learned the importance of the involvement and encouragement of the parents in the education of their children. I remember the long nights I spent studying and my mom sat in her big comfy couch eyes closed blessing me with her company. She would always listen to all that I had to say about school and when she didn’t understand she would sit through my bizarre explanations.
The biggest challenge in my educational career began with the college application process. This process is long and requires much help, guidance, patience and financial stability to pay for fees regarding applications and acceptance fees. I had to do all the research and make some decisions on my own. This process was more difficult because my parents could not help me with the paper work because they could not speak or read English. God blessed me with Ms. Holcombe, my high school college advisor who went out of her way to make sure I got into the college I would be happy in.
I am very attached to my family and planned to attend a college in New York City where I live but God had a different plan for me. All the colleges I applied to were in New York State except one, Bates College which is located in Lewiston, Maine. When it was time to decide which college I would attend, I could not believe what my heart was telling me. After spending two days at Bates, God had spoken to me and I knew that this school was the one for me. I could not believe that I was going to leave all that I know in New York; my family, my church, my friends and start a new phase of my life at Bates in Maine.
I knew it was going to be the most difficult thing I have done in my life so far, but I did it. Here I am summer 2005 having completed my first year of college. It was not easy and I am not going to say that I did not struggle because I did. I cried a lot, I missed my family like never before, I even wanted to go home and transfer to a school closer to home but I didn’t. I did not give up; I fought against every obstacle that came my way with the help of those who care about me. I spoke to my mother every night from the first night to the last night of my first year of college. I built a support system of people at Bates I could go to for help, advice or just to talk to. I joined a club that made my life at Bates feel so much like home. Bates Christian Fellowship (BCF) became my church away from home and its members my siblings in Christ.
Through BCF I got the opportunity to grow in Christ although away from my local church. One memorable experience I encountered by being part of BCF was participating in a service project in Camden, New Jersey. A group of students and Bill, our college minister worked with a Christian organization called Urban Promise. I got the opportunity to worship God by helping His people. I worked together with a Kindergarten class in the mornings and did some gardening and painting for the after school program in the afternoons for seven days. The Lord touched my heart through the lives of the children I worked with. I was also able to get closer and build a deeper and greater fellowship with my friends from BCF.
One thing that is on my “Life Line” of things that I want to do is become a missionary and travel to foreign countries sharing the love of God. A glimpse of this desire was brought to me sooner than I expected. The Lord gave me the opportunity of going on a mission’s trip to Guatemala. I went with our college minister, Bill and three other female students that are also part of BCF. The Lord used us all in mighty ways. I was capable of serving the Lord Jesus in ways I never thought I could. I was able to minister to people and testify of Jesus’ love in ways that helped them get to know the Lord. My relationship with the Lord has grown magnificently since I have been part of BCF, which is a confirmation that I am at the right college and that I am on the correct path.
My education has taken me far but my faith has led me to be strong, courageous and has given me the confidence to face the world knowing that I will be a conqueror. I will continue fighting the obstacles that come my way. I will pursue my educational goals and one day not too far from now I see myself with a career planted on love, faith, and beauty helping children grow and develop gracefully. I will spread my wings and breakaway to a place that is my own.
You were a 2 1/2 lb baby. No me digas! well Fatima your life does radiate a committment to living with love and purpose. Your example in daily life is such an exapmple to me-meek perseverance.It's refreshing and inspiring to have you in Nash and in my life.Thanks for the prayers and the smiles Latina!