THE MISSING NARRATIVE

An Interview with Miguelina Amarante

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before diving in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us some of your cultural heritage and upbringing?

My family is from the Dominican Republic and Dominican Spanish (yes, it's a different kind of Spanish - lol) was the language spoken at home when I was growing up.

My migration story is a little bittersweet. Sounds like I am telling a satire when I am writing it. My dad came to the United States 3 weeks after my mom gave birth to me. He called us once a week, every Sunday, to keep in touch. He took vacation twice a year for a week or two to come to see us every year while I was growing up. He worked very hard as a taxi driver and sold fruits from the back of his van during the summers. When I completed 8th grade, my parents discussed the windows of opportunities I could have in the States versus at home in the Dominican Republic. They made the unanimous decision to let me go with him to the Bronx in New York City and start, what they believed, would be a brighter future for me. Within the week I left my life behind and jumped on this adventure into what felt like a new world. Once we were on the plane, my dad spilled the beans and told me about his relationship with another lady (not my mom) and a deceased baby sister. I was in complete shock since I grew up being the baby in the family, and knew he was married to my mom. So, I had a sour taste in my “paladar” for most of my journey while living with him.

I remember in those early days not wanting to be home and I made sure I applied myself in school, made it to the honor roll, signed up for most of the after-school programs, and even did community service on the weekends, just to escape the reality of being home with them. After I completed my sophomore year in high school, my dad sent me back to the Dominican Republic because he thought I was ungrateful and rebellious because I did not want to be home and I sure did constantly remind him how much I missed my mom and sisters. While completing my junior year, my sister had just married my brother-in-law and asked for him to allow me to stay with them for my senior year so that I could complete high school in the States. I still didn’t want to come back, but my sister is the light of my life, so I knew I was going to be in a better spot than how I felt living with my dad. I trusted their instincts and hopped back on the plane and reconnected with my previous group of friends and my remarkably extraordinary teachers. Once again, I applied myself to be a top student, anticipating a full college ride of some sort.

I never showed my family the acceptance letters from CUNY schools, and I made sure I chose a college away from the city to avoid living with my dad and his girlfriend. I was more advanced than them in the English language, so I used that to my advantage and it played very well for me and my well-being. Once in college, I matured enough to understand that my mom and dad’s problems were theirs and so I shouldn’t have judged him for how I felt he wronged my mom. We were able to grow a stronger relationship, until his final days at the spike of COVID. He continually reminded me how proud he was that I stuck to the plan he envisioned when he first brought me to the United States. Today, I am grateful for the many opportunities this country has given me, and I still visit home at least once a year.

What is one memorable moment that you have with Dr. Beato? Why was it memorable for you?

I have had many memorable moments with Dr. Beato. My first official vacation was a trip to Costa Rica rewarded to the top honor roll students by our then principal. During the trip, Dr. Beato and Ms. Reyes were the chaperones and, while we were there, they bought us Pre-Columbian charms as souvenirs, which I still dearly preserve to date. I never had anyone gifted me anything outside of my immediate family. I can mention so many classroom memories with him and the significant impact he and a handful of other dedicated teachers and staff made in my life. The way he carried himself, and portrayed such a young, charming, and intelligent being, was admirable and how he showed pride in our Dominican culture. I now make my niece read some of the same books we read in his classroom to educate the younger generations about our Latino culture. (Abriendo Puertas, y Don Quijote). To me, it was an honor to have had the opportunity to be in his classroom. I know many of my high school friends that are thriving today due to Beato’s strong character and tough-mindedness. “El nunca nos sacó el guante, y nos tenía alineados en filita. No hay quien jodiera con Beato, porque les caía gas.”

What 3 words best describe you in this moment?

God-fearing, goal-driven, and loyal. Yes, I would have described myself the same while in high school. I never wanted to follow in the footsteps of most adults around me while growing up. I always knew there was more to life than the boundaries we set for ourselves in the NYC Latino community. I was determined to succeed in the U.S. against the stereotypical statistics in my neighborhood in the Bronx. I focused my energy while in high school to learn the English language enough to allow me to understand college-level courses and not fail. Failing classes has never been an option in my family and I was not going to break the tradition.

What do you envision yourself doing 10 years from now?

10 years from now, I plan to be involved in public policy in the Dominican Republic.

Do you remember what you wrote about in your college essay? What advice do you have for current multilingual learners who are in the same spot you were years ago?

I do not remember my college essay. My recommendation to current multilingual learners is to interact and learn about other people's cultures, be receptive and have empathy. Also, surround yourself with individuals that have similar goals in life and are smarter than you. They will teach you a thing or two. Maintain those relationships because it’s all about who you know.

What were some of the things you feel you contributed to in your high school?

I don’t think I contributed much in high school, I was a bit of a rebel when it came to imposing rules that I didn’t agree with. Like when the full classroom had to stay for detention when I knew I had nothing to do with the situation. The school was still trying to figure it out and I understand since I was part of the first graduating class. However, I am proud of some influences I made in college. For example, I was eager to take Microsoft Excel as an elective course, and it forever changed the way I looked at that software. The valuable lessons I’ve learned have dictated significant opportunities for me in the workforce and my finances. Upon graduation, the Dean made Excel a required course for the Construction Management curriculum. I have stayed in touch with that professor and she typically and jokingly tells me stories of how magnificent and exceptional the construction students are compared to other majors.

What is one thing you didn’t do in high school that you wish you did?

I wish I had spent more time reading non-fiction, and personal finance books, and learning new and different skills. I was not aware of trade school. I wish someone would have the time to show my classmates and me the real cost of college versus going into the trades. College is not for everyone, but I do think we all have a set of skills in our tool belt to help us all make an honest living.

Were there any moments when you felt afraid while in high school as you were learning English? Why did that scare you? And what did you do about it?

The most frightening moment for me came toward the end of the summer right after graduating from high school. Exactly two weeks prior to starting my first college semester (Fall 2011), my laptop screen broke, and my dad was unable to pay for the repair. I thought that I needed my personal computer in college to submit my homework and do my projects. I was naïve and the lack of knowledge of the people around me pushed me to decide to call the school and withdraw from my fall semester. No one at home nor my close friends had ever attended college in America. This was a new chapter for everyone around me. I was afraid to go to school “empty-handed” and not be able to fulfill my duties as a student and fail my family. I postponed it and started in the Spring of 2012. I was devastated and had to continue working at the grocery store that I anticipated would only be a summer job just so I could save enough money to buy myself a new laptop. Once I started my first semester and understood the university’s dynamic, I realized that I didn’t even need a computer to start college because the campus was equipped with computers and not just at the library, but study halls and labs that were accessible 24/7. I learned a few things while I was there: always pray to God (in whatever deity one chooses to follow) to clear your vision, go back and ask for help when you need it, and be disciplined with yourself. Life is not that complex, we humans make it complicated. Yo misma me estaba ahogando en un sippy cup and now, as an adult, I have stopped doing that to myself.