My name is Nathaly, but those close to me also call me Naty, Nat, Natachi, or Natalia. You may call me however you’d like as well. I am the youngest of three sisters, and they have been my built‑in best friends ever since we were little girls. My mother and my two sisters moved to the U.S. when I was eight years old. Although we had visited before when I was younger, it wasn’t until that age that we fully settled here. For part of my childhood, I lived in my home country, El Salvador. I am grateful for my roots, where I come from, and how they have shaped my perspective. Like many who migrate or flee their countries, my mother wanted better opportunities for us. During the other part of my childhood here in the U.S., my mother always embraced our Latin culture at home. She played music from artists such as Julio Iglesias, José José, Emmanuel, Camilo Sesto, and others. From a young age, I paid close attention to the songs. As I grew older, I realized that many of these songs were not just lyrics or simple words — they were art and beautiful poems that reflected human nature. This music became one of the reasons I wanted to bring my own voice to life. I wanted to write my own poem one day.
While moving between countries and enduring emotional challenges, writing became an outlet for expressing thoughts I couldn’t say aloud. This is another reason writing became a space where I could express myself and build agency. At that time, I was very timid and kept my emotions contained. Writing about my experiences and feelings through reflective papers and creative stories released all the emotions I had kept within. Not only did writing let go an internal weight, but it also became part of my growth and healing process. Through writing, I was able to see the person I was becoming.
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In my junior year of high school, my teachers introduced the idea of “finding your niche” to help us understand what path we might take in life and eventually what major we would choose in college. My immediate thought was, “Writing Studies, or something related to writing, because this is what I identify with.” After high school, I couldn’t come directly to Kean University, but I completed an associate’s degree at Union County College. After that, I transferred to Kean and completed my B.A. in English/Writing. After graduating last year, I decided I wanted to continue pursuing a higher academic level. I am pursuing an M.A. in Writing Studies because I feel it is the next step in my intellectual development as a writer.P
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Personally, I believe that completing an M.A. in Writing Studies would also honor my mother’s sacrifice. This is the future she envisioned for her daughter. More than just a career or intellectual goal, writing has become part of who I am. Every poem or piece of writing I’ve created holds a piece of my heart and mind.
