Tell Me Your Story 3.10

Patricia was born in Cuba but came to US with her parents when she was 8 years old; while her grandparents and other family members remained living in Cuba. She describes a beautiful childhood while living there; and talks about important people in her life, including mammy Gladys, a kind neighbor who took care of her while her parents were at work. She also recounts childhood memories of playing with a cousin, who felt more like a sister, and a friend from the neighborhood. She also describes moments while living in Cuba that reflects the economic situation in the country at that time.

When Patricia left Cuba she was in the 4th grade, but when she arrived in the United States, she was placed in a third grade class. This allowed her to take a year to study and improve her English. In Miami she joined a Magnet school and received a lot of help from her friends, parents, and teachers while learning English. It was in elementary school that she met a good friend, Deanna Parish, who she would eventually lose connection with for many years. Luckily, the two were able to reconnect after college while working in Washington D.C. and later, at Harvard Law School when studying here. Coincidently, after graduating they reunited once again, now both working as Clinical Instructors at HLS.

Patricia talks about the sense of security while living in Cuba and the challenges she faced trying to adjust to her new life in Miami. She was picked on because of her accent during her first years in school. She remembers the preparation for college, not really feeling certain on what to do, but applying for major colleges and being accepted to Yale, Princeton and Harvard. In the end, she chose to go to Yale.

She mentions the struggles she faced while in college, including financial concerns, the distance from home, and cultural perceptions between her background and the new environment she was in. But she talks about her courses in Yale and the friends she made there that are still important in her life. She found diversity there but faced challenges trying to find mentorship programs for support. Instead, she found support among friends and other students who were meaningful to her. Patricia describes that she found support in an organic way, rather then specific programs created by the school.

The fire alarm had started to sound, so we had to stop the recording and get out. Stay tuned for the next episode.