Gisel Raymundo-Garcia

A purple-flowered backpack from Guatemala hangs from my door. It’s filled with pictures of my parents, the only thing I have to remember them. The loss of my parents shaped my life in ways I never could have imagined, especially when it came to my education and future aspirations. My journey began in Schuyler, Nebraska, where my parents, undocumented immigrants, tried to provide a better life for us. When I was five, my father was deported due to a DUI, leaving my mother alone with three young children. Unable to manage on her own, she moved us to Guatemala. Life was difficult, but we managed. After my sister was born, my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My father had returned to the U.S., and our family had plans to reunite. I was six when I witnessed my mother’s passing.

With no financial security or life insurance, my siblings and I were separated. My brothers were taken to Nebraska, while I remained in Guatemala due to an expired passport. When I finally reunited with my father in the U.S., I thought life would stabilize. Instead, it became a cycle of struggle and instability. My father turned to alcohol, and after another DUI, he was deported once again. My brothers and I were left behind, living with relatives.

Had my mother and father had life insurance, my siblings and I could have had financial stability, which might have allowed us to stay together. Instead of constantly worrying, I could have focused on my education from a young age. Life insurance could have provided security, funding for school, and an environment free from poor financial hardship and instability.

After my father returned to the U.S., we lived with his girlfriend and her children. He drank heavily, and when he was intoxicated, he became violent. The abuse, fear, and instability made life unbearable. Eventually, his drinking cost him his job. One morning, after a short period of sobriety and promises of change, my father committed suicide. Once again, I was left asking, “Where do I go now?”

Moving in with relatives in Gibbon, Nebraska, provided the first real stability. Though I’m considered homeless by the state, I finally felt at home. I worked tirelessly to ensure I was not a financial burden, balancing work and school. The weight of my past only fueled my determination to succeed. I want to pursue a degree in social work so I can help others who have faced adversity like mine.

Receiving the Life Lessons Scholarship by Life Happens would mean more than financial assistance, it would be proof that despite my hardships, there are people who believe in me and my future. My journey has been filled with obstacles, but I am determined to build a future where I can provide stability and hope, not just for myself but for others in need. My parents may not be here to see me succeed, but I know they would be proud of the person I am becoming.