Rose Oscar

Due to the political unrest that happened in Haiti in 1992, my family fled Haiti and spent a year in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before being granted political asylum into the United States. I am the oldest of four children to a single mother who has overcome adversity and has fought for her freedom as well as ours. As a refugee growing up in the United States, I watched my mother struggle at times working two to three odd jobs and 16-hour days to take care of us. After graduating high school, I went straight into the workforce, working odd jobs in order to help take care of my family. Five years ago my mother was diagnosed with severe arthritis in both knees and underwent two-knee replacement surgeries, which has left her permanently disabled. In my struggles to help my family, it has made me realize how important education truly is, this being my reason for my pursuit of higher education.