When we arrived in Chicago it was February. It was really cold. I loved the beautiful snow. We went through downtown in the snow with all the buildings with my whole family - all five of us.
During the summer, I started to make friends. Dah blah was my first friend. She’s from Thailand, she was really lonely, and we felt really similarly.
My first experience with GirlForward was the Mentoring Program. I felt really comfortable. I felt that Emily, Ashley and Ms. Blair were like family to me.
I’m very curious by nature. My mom told me to study hard. I read a lot of books, and books help me a lot. That’s how I improve. My school trains me how to read and write, and Emily and Charlotte help me with my homework. I feel tired all the time. I’m envious of what other people have time to do. But I think about my past and think about what I want to do to help other people. I want to be a doctor to help my grandma, my friends, and people in the United States. I want to pay back my community for how they have helped me.
GIRLFORWARD GIVES GIRLS LIKE MIRIAM THE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.
Illustrations by Cori Lin Art.