A New Chapter Begins

On June 11, Alejandrina stood proudly as she took the Oath of Allegiance and officially became a United States citizen. After more than a decade of perseverance, struggle, and growth, this moment — just weeks before her first Independence Day as an American — marked not just a legal milestone, but a personal triumph.

Alejandrina’s path to citizenship was guided and supported by Catholic Charities Community Services’ International Center. The International Center addresses a vital need for immigrants and refugees to not only learn English, but to become confident, active participants in the life of New York City.

Through welcoming, community-based programming — including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, digital literacy workshops, and citizenship preparation — the International Center builds a supportive learning environment that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds, and identities.

Alejandrina’s experience was no exception. Through the International Center, she found not just instruction, but community — teachers and volunteers who worked with care and passion to help her succeed.

“I feel free,” she says simply. “I feel very, very happy. Because here, I have more opportunities than in my country.”

Born in the Dominican Republic, Alejandrina moved to New York City in 2011 and now lives in the Bronx. She is the proud mother of three children — two daughters and a son. Her daughters are preparing for studies in nursing and criminology, and her son will soon begin high school. But the journey to this point was long and often difficult.

Resilience and Opportunity

In the Dominican Republic, Alejandrina had been a teacher and held a master’s degree in business. But political corruption made it nearly impossible to find work unless you had the right connections.

“If you didn’t have a connection with the government, you couldn’t get a job — even if you studied a lot,” she explains.

In the United States, she found a different reality — one where hard work and dedication could lead to new possibilities. She began studying English, took a course to become a home health aide, and found work with ArchCare, a health organization of the Archdiocese of New York that provides health and support services to individuals with chronic and advanced medical needs.

She also discovered Catholic Charities and the International Center through a woman she met at her son’s baseball game. The International Center offered her something she deeply valued: a chance to grow and learn again.

“Catholic Charities is an amazing institution,” she says. “The teachers — Lisa, Vivian, Brian —they teach with so much love. That helped me learn quickly because they teach with a lot of passion.”

Alejandrina took the citizenship course not once, but twice, to build her confidence. A tutor named Judy helped her practice for the U.S. naturalization test, an exam that applicants for U.S. citizenship must pass as part of the naturalization process. There are 100 civics questions that applicants can study from. With support from the International Center, Alejandrina passed her exam and celebrated her naturalization in June.

“It was a goal I couldn’t believe I finally finished,” she says. “Now, I walk on the street, and I feel different. I feel safe.”

She doesn’t take that safety — or her access to healthcare, education, and job opportunities — for granted. She remembers how unaffordable medical care was in her home country, and how difficult it was to study without money.

“In my country, if you don’t have money, you can’t study. You can’t go to the hospital. You can die because you’re poor,” she says.

Looking Ahead: A Dream to Give Back

Now that she’s an American citizen, Alejandrina has new goals. She dreams of teaching again and of volunteering with Catholic Charities to give back.

“I speak a lot about Catholic Charities to my friends,” she says. “I tell them, go there. You can learn English, become a citizen. All for free,” she says. “I appreciate everything Catholic Charities has done for me. I want to give back in return.”

She also plans to celebrate this Fourth of July with her children, just as she has every year. But this time, it will feel different.

“Of course, we celebrated before because my children were born here,” she says. “But now, I’m American too.”

Alejandrina’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination that fuel the American dream. It reminds us that opportunity, while not always easy, is still possible — and that those who seek it with courage and humility help shape the very best of this country.

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