Esmeralda Gomez:  My name is Esmeralda. I am 20 years old, and I am from Lempira. I have seven siblings; five girls and two boys, and I am the oldest of my siblings. My family has had to work very hard to accomplish many things in life. My father works as a carpenter and also as a constructor worker. My mom takes care of my siblings but also, spends some time sewing clothes. I am so proud of my family because thanks to them I have accomplished some of my goals. My parents have taught me to work hard and be an example for more girls in my community. I have gone through many difficulties, but I am still trying to achieve what I want. When I was sixteen years old, I went to live to an orphanage because I wanted to study and, in my community, there wasn’t a high school. Living there, I learned many things which are being helpful in my life.

Living at TLC has been a really good experience, people here are wonderful. I love how we grow as leaders, and I also enjoy sharing with girls from other parts of the country. I am really grateful with TLC because people are helping me to improve in many things. TLC has been teaching me to be strong to accomplish my goals and how to help people. What I like the most is that we live as a community, here at TLC.

I want to continue studying at the university to become a psychologist. My purpose is to help people who have gone through difficult situations in their lives. Also, with the knowledge I have gotten at TLC, I want to help more girls to continue studying to become leaders and, in that way, make changes in my community.  In the future I would like to have a coffee shop to help my family and also the people who need jobs.