On July 31st, 2016, I boarded a flight that would take me from Caracas, Venezuela to Indianapolis, Indiana. Many Venezuelans who come to the United States do so because of terrible and life-changing events, hoping to avoid violence, kidnapping, or a government takeover of their business.
For me, I hoped to come to America — even as a young teenager — because the United States represented freedom, safety, and the promise that I would never again suffer the consequences of socialism. I worked hard, and after receiving a full merit-based scholarship was blessed with the opportunity to start my college education in the United States.
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