Yolimar Del Carmen

I remember the moment I left my country. I was 15 years old, living in Venezuela. I was with my father and my sister, and together we made the journey — walking long stretches and riding in a car during other parts of the trip. I will never forget that day, because it was the day I had to say goodbye to everything and everyone I loved. First, we left Venezuela and crossed into Colombia. From there, we faced one of the most grueling challenges of the entire journey — the Darién jungle. The hardest part was pushing through that jungle, step after step, with no guarantee that we would ever reach the other side. There were moments when I felt I couldn't take another step, when my body had nothing left to give and my spirit was wearing thin. After that, things did not get much easier. There was still a long road ahead before we would reach our destination. We kept going anyway. Finally, we arrived in Mexico, where we faced one last crossing — the Río Bravo — before setting foot in the United States. After this experience, I was able to reflect on everything people sacrifice in search of a better future, not only for themselves but for the families they leave behind. This story is important to me because it reflects everything I went through in pursuit of that better future. I hope my story shows you that despite all the adversity life throws at you, you should never give up — keep fighting for your dreams, and keep fighting for the people you love.