The process for obtaining citizenship can be a very stressful one, but that did not discourage Martha. Martha came to the United States in 2013, worked at a bakery, and eventually found her way to working in Esperanza Academy’s cafeteria services. There, she learned of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS). After speaking to a representative, she decided that she would take the citizenship class offered by EILS to finally pursue her dream of becoming a U.S. Citizen.
Sadly, her son passed away that same summer and Martha was forced to drop the class. This, coupled with her severe anxiety that would even cause her to tremble during tasks. However, Martha had made a promise to herself, and her family, and she knew that EILS’ team would be there to walk alongside her. Although Martha is 76 years old, she had not been in the United States long enough to qualify to take the Civics exam in Spanish. However, she persevered with her application, English classes, and practice with EILS staff for her interview.
Through her hard work, on July 26, 2021, Martha became a United States Citizen. Martha credits her faith, her support system at Esperanza throughout the years, and her son’s brave and encouraging spirit for her success. She describes feeling the drive to push through this challenge as her son would have wanted. Thank you to Martha for reminding us that it’s never too late to accomplish your personal goals.