Estefania Valdivia is a junior. She was born in Mexico and came here as a young teenager looking for a better opportunity. She is reserved, quiet and loves to spend time helping others and doing community service. Her hobbies include drawing, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

The Wrangler: Where are you originally from?
Valdivia: Durango, Mexico. I spent most of my life in Mexico.

The Wrangler: What do you miss most about Mexico?
Valdivia : I miss my friends and mostly my family.

The Wrangler: What is the main difference from the United States and Mexico?
Valdivia: The difference, it’s that in Mexico, the people are more social and you can go to places without a car, and here is more like a routine. What I mostly miss about Mexico is the food.
The Wrangler: When did you first arrive here and how?
Valdivia: I came here almost two and a half years ago, in 2013, on a plane. It was very exciting for me

The Wrangler: Why did you come here?
Valdivia: I came here for a better education and also Mexico is a very insecure place to live.

The Wrangler: Did you already know English when you came here?
Valdivia: Yes, I only knew a few words. Learning a new language may sound difficult, but I saw it as an opportunity.

The Wrangler: How did you learn to speak it?
Valdivia: I learned English by watching TV and with a lot, a lot of practice. I learn from others and even from my own mistakes.

The Wrangler: Is the education better here or in Mexico? Why?
Valdivia: The education is better here because you can go to school without worries and your parents can make sure that you come safe and sound from school. The teachers help you with all your questions and that’s nice. In Mexico they don’t care about your work, it’s like you’re in college.

The Wrangler: What challenges have you faced from coming to a new country?
Valdivia: The challenges that I’ve had to face are speaking a new language and making a new life here.

The Wrangler: How is your life different now that you’re here?
Valdivia: Now I don’t a lot, it’s like a routine. Now I have more liberty.

The Wrangler: People often stereotype what people from Mexico are like. Have you ever encountered someone who sees or treats you differently because of where you came from?
Valdivia: Yes, people think that I don’t understand English but I do.