Katiria Colon
by Myra Lundi

     My subject's name is Katiria Colon. She was born in Puerto Rico on January 30, 1987, in the city of Ponce. She is now attending Central High School, in her senior year. The first question that I asked was, “What makes you unique from everyone?” She responded, “Well, my sense of style is very unique from everyone in Central. I don't like to dress like everyone else; and I like to be my own person. Also, my personality is very different from many girls here. I am not the type of person who will judge people by their cover. I like to get to know them before I judge them.”
     The second question I asked was, “What is special about you?” She told me, “I am a positive person, never thinking negatively. Most people like to chill with their friends, but my mom is my best friend. She is always there for me, just like I will always be there for her. I like to help people who are incapable of doing things by themselves. I also like helping little kids and making learning fun for them.”
     “So Katiria, can you tell me about a life changing moment in your life?” She responded: “My father called me for the first time and told me that we have a lot to talk about. I hadn't heard from my father since I was 2 years old! Three weeks after the call he showed up at my house while I was at the Central High School dance. That was held on November 12, 2004. I arrived at my house around 9:30 and all I saw were the faces around my kitchen table. My mom introduced my father's wife as her friend and his sister, who is my aunt. Then she told me that this was my father. I was speechless, but the expression of joy on my face said it all. We hugged each other and started crying. We spent about 3 hours talking about the past and why he wasn't here when I needed him the most. This is the moment that changed my life because the only person that I had until then was my mom (Candida).
     To my brothers and me, she was our mother and father. But now since my father showed up, I am giving him a second chance to prove that he is capable of being a father to my brothers and me. Even though he showed up, I still think of my mother as my mother and father. Nothing will ever change that.”

Jordan Espo
by Benny Peguero

     Jordan Espejo was born on July 30, 1987 in a town called Callao, in Peru. He is now attending Central High School. When he came to Providence, he was only thirteen years old. This was a life changing moment for him because he moved from his hometown to somewhere completely new. He left his family and friends behind and came alone, which wasn't easy for him. Even though he's sad about the move, he has been successful here in Providence. At Perry Middle School he learned many things, one of which was how to speak English. He also made new friends and he began to feel comfortable being here without his family or old friends with him. Though he was at Perry Middle School for half of the eighth grade, he's glad he had the chance to be there even if he began late.
     Jordan's hobbies are playing soccer, shopping, listening to music and playing with computers. He plays with computers because he wants to learn more about them. His favorite subject is the A+ computer program. This is also why Jordan wants to go to CCRI [Community College of Rhode Island] classes when he graduates from high school.
     The thing that separates Jordan from everyone in school is that he believes he's the only Peruvian person in his school. What's special about Jordan is that Jordan works at Popeye's Chicken on Atwells Avenue until midnight and still manages to come to school everyday on time and ready to learn.
     I believe that Jordan is very smart and that he will be successful in life. He has many people who will support him, so he won't be alone. I have seen Jordan be good and bad, but as we all know everyone makes mistakes in life. He is not only a great student but is also a great friend. He has helped many of his friends and I know this because I'm one of them.

Karinta Mitchell
by Nikida King

     Karinta says the thing that separates her from everyone else is the way that she acts. Other things would be her accomplishments in life, her personality traits, and the way that she looks.
     If anyone was to tell a story about her life, Karinta said it would have to be the day that her grandmother passed away. When she died, her mother and her brothers and sisters all fell apart. Her grandmother was the only the one who kept the family together, and the only one who'd made every one get along with each other. Her grandmother had fourteen children, though three died.
     The changing moment in her life will be when she graduates from high school. From there, she pictures herself going to college and making something of herself. Her mother and father graduated from high school, but didn't make it to college. Her mother wants all of her children to go to college. So, maybe their mother's dream will come true.
     Karinta wouldn't change anything about her life. When asked she concluded, “I love the life that I'm living.”

Victor Baez
by Jessica Urizar

     Nothing separates Victor from school since he has plans in his life. He plans to succeed and prove to a lot of people that don't believe in him that they are wrong. The most special thing about Victor is that he is blessed with the ability to play sports. He is very athletic and has big plans, mostly with baseball. Baseball has changed his life. He wants to prove to his father's side of the family that working hard pays off at the end.
     Victor's father says a few good things about him, but he says bad things, too, like that he's a lazy kid. The thing that keeps him going and moving on with his life is his mother. She supports and helps him. Her words encourage him. Something his uncle once said was also very encouraging. What he said was: “The feeling of pain is temporary. The feeling of success, the feeling that you have won, will be there always.”
     All this really has helped Victor. The encouraging words are stronger than what the other family members believe, which is that Victor won't succeed.

Evelyn Saa
by Tasha Weeden

     Evelyn Saa was born in Liberia, where she spent her childhood years. While she was living in Liberia, she was young and loved her life. She had great relationships with both her friends and family. Evelyn lost her mother while she was giving birth to her younger brother, and her father had gotten sick and died before her brother was born. She was only six years old. In January 2001, she came to the United States with her uncle, who is her guardian.
     Although she had strong relationships in Liberia, here in the United States she'd rather keep to herself. When she does have time to spare, she reads, watches TV, writes poetry and listens to music. Evelyn has friends but they aren't good influences, she says. She is currently a senior at Central High School, and after she gradates from high school, she wants to become a nurse so she can help her people in Liberia.

Dagmar Noble
by La 'Toya Hill

     The person I chose to do a profile on was Dagmar Noble. Dagmar entered the world on February 21, 1987 in Newark New Jersey. She is the youngest of five girls in her house. The Noble family later packed up and moved to San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic for seven years. After living there, the family moved to New York for for a few years. Then they hit their final destination, which was Providence, Rhode Island. No matter how many times they moved, Dagmar says she always grew up in a loving home.
     What is important to Dagmar is learning how to become an independent woman and provide for herself. She has help from her friends and family to keep her grounded. What Dagmar feels separates her from other people is the fact that she is intellectual. She's a very out spoken person. An experience that changed Dagmar was when she had to attend the SCORE program. This program made Dagmar realize that being on the wrong side of the law isn't what it is cracked up to be.

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