Personal Narrative Essay: Ruminating About Myself

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, I was only a one-month-old baby when I found myself without a home, food, protection, a mother, or a father. Eventually, I would be taken to live with relatives, but to this day, I cannot imagine what it was like for me at that age. I never got the chance to grow up with a mother, which was a heavy loss, but not one I would truly understand until years later.

My life could have been so different had I been adopted by another family, or left to beg on the streets of Port-au-Prince, or worse.

In Haiti, about 30,000 children reside in orphanages, and roughly 80 to 90% of orphanage occupants have a parent or parents that are still alive, according to UNICEF. A lack of educational opportunities and the possibility of abuse is the reality for many.

Fortunately, God smiled down on me and placed me in the care of my wonderful godmother. She put me through Catholic school, fed me, taught me how to read and write, and walked me to school every day.

After receiving my green card visa in 1999, I immigrated from Haiti to the United States at the age of 18. For a short time, I lived with my stepmother, my dad, and three other siblings, and it opened my eyes.

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Only knowing a few words of English, I faced and overcame an unbelievable amount of obstacles throughout my life, but fortunately, my father was able to instill in me the value and importance of education.

Despite the improvements the U.S.

has seen in terms of immigrant education levels, the number of immigrants 25+ with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree was only 30% in 2016. Many immigrants are unable to take education seriously because they need to work two to three jobs to make ends meet, or their parents are not able to support their education. My father and stepmother supported me financially and had me enroll in high school during my tenth-grade year, where I only took ESL classes for a time. The following year, I transitioned to standard classes, and in 12th grade, I took AP and honors classes.

My godmother, my father, and others opened the door to opportunity, and through trial and error, I was able to build my life on a strong foundation of spiritual strength and faith. One of my greatest accomplishments was and still is becoming a grateful and loving husband and father. I was also able to attain an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, as well as an MBA from Clark University with dual concentrations in Finance and Management Information Systems.

Yet, my life became stagnant, and I couldn’t find fulfillment in my work. Following some in-depth soul searching, I discovered my passion for business strategy and motivational coaching. Soon after, I published two books: It’s Time to Start Living with Passion! Your Journey to Self-Discovery and From Idea to Reality: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Meaningful Business Growth, which was featured as one of the Best Books for Startup Founders and First-Time Entrepreneurs by Forbes. While the road to today was difficult, it made me who I am and fuels my mission to give people an enduring source of hope. Through workshops, professional development, book resources, video courses, and a community of personal connections, mentors, and partners, I strive to help others achieve their dreams, no matter the odds.