Meet Yessamin

[This interview was first published in a New Neighbors newsletter for Veterans Day in 2023]

Yessamin is the oldest daughter in a New Neighbors family from Guatemala. When her family first arrived, New Neighbors Partnership shared clothes, school supplies, scholarship application support, and other resources to help her family thrive in their new home. Active members of our community, Yessamin and her family have cooked food for our gatherings and created beautiful, handmade gifts to thank volunteers. Congratulations to Yessamin who joined the Air Force and recently completed her basic training!

Photo by Rathkopf Photography

How did you come to the US and what were some resettlement challenges you faced?

My mother became a widow at twenty five years old with five kids to look after. She tried her hardest to give us a decent life in Guatemala, but there were times when we lacked the bare necessities of life such as a home, food, and electricity. Crossing through Mexico with my sisters to join our mother was dangerous and very scary. At that time I was fifteen years old, and I felt like I was a kid taking care of three younger kids. I knew the lives of my younger sisters rested in my own hands, I did everything in my capacity to get them safely to the US.

When we arrived in the States, I had a very challenging time adapting to a new society. For me, it was the hardest to adapt to the language barrier. My family and I are native Mayans so we used to speak K’iche’ back in Guatemala. When I arrived in the States, no one spoke my dialect, so I had to learn Spanish and eventually English. The first two years, I had a very tough time at school. I remember going home from school every single day for three months and crying uncontrollably, because I couldn't understand anybody, and I always felt isolated. No kid wanted to be my friend.

How has New Neighbors helped?

I will never stop being thankful that organizations like New Neighbors exist, because it feels amazing to know that there are people out there that are happy to help people in need.

“The first box of clothes we received from New Neighbors Partnership, my mother and I cried.”

My mother couldn’t afford to buy me new clothes and shoes. The only clothes we had were clothes my mother was able to purchase at a secondhand store so they were very old and big on me. The small amount of money my mother used to earn, she used to send back to Guatemala to pay for debt, financially support me and my three younger sisters, and pay the bills here in the States.

Photo by Rathkopf Photography

The first box of clothes we received from New Neighbors Partnership, my mother and I cried, because we needed new clothes and my mother wasn’t able to purchase them, because she was still paying off debts. From then on, my mother didn’t have to worry about purchasing clothes for me and my sisters, because we started to receive boxes all the time from our partner families. Every time my family and I receive a box, we get excited to see what is inside!

“I always knew I wanted to serve this amazing country that completely changed my life.”

Photo by Rathkopf Photography

What made you want to join the air force?

Ever since I was younger I always admired people in the military, and it was a wild dream of mine to be part of the military back in Guatemala. Unfortunately, many Guatemalan women are forced to get married at a young age, which is another reason why mother was so eager to have me grow up in the states: she didn’t want me to marry young and have kids at a very young age. Here in the US, when I was in high school, I always liked when military recruiters came to talk to students about the option of enlisting in the military. I always knew that I wanted to serve this amazing country that completely changed my life, so as soon as I received my permanent residence card, three days later I started the process of enlisting into the military.

What has your experience been like so far?

I graduated basic military training May 26. Basic military training was very tough but I am so proud to have gone through it. I discovered a lot about myself but most importantly how strong-willed I really am. I am the first one in my family to ever be in the military and go to college. All of the women in my family are cheering for me to continue to break the cycles. I also feel like I am an inspiration to my four younger sisters, proving we can reach and do anything we set our minds to.

What advice would you share with other newcomers?

To all of the newcomers, please don’t give up. The sky’s the limit.

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