Dear Reader,
Still continuing on the theme of “Being Your Authentic Self,” I’m sharing two questions students asked me at my alma mater Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) during our discussion about Destined in February 2025 and my responses to them.
Carolina, CCP student from the Dominican Republic: How was it for you when you came to the United States and how did you find out what you want to do for your future?
Me: Carolina, it was a journey. That’s why I wanted to write this book [Destined] because sometimes when you make progress in your life people can lose sight that it’s a journey. It was definitely not overnight, and it wasn’t planned in many ways. Education for me was just trying. I had no clue that I would be sitting here at this point in my life and be exactly where I am now.
In terms of answering your question on how it was when I first came here [to the United States], overwhelming is the word that comes to mind. I came not really knowing much about America. I didn’t have family members around me; I was just with my husband. I wasn’t speaking the language, and culturally, the United States and Senegal are very different. The lifestyle in the U.S. moves really fast; people don’t have time. In Senegal, life was much slower. I had to adjust to many of those things. Eventually, it worked out, but it took years and a lot of trying. That’s how I got here.
I started reading English academically with children’s books that I was reading to my own children. Now you see me read this book [Destined] like smooth sailing; it wasn’t always like that.
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Nia, CCP student: Of all the things you went through, are there any regrets, and is there one thing you would change?
Me: If I had a choice as a kid, I would’ve preferred growing up with my own parents. But then again looking back, not growing up with my own parents gave me an inner strength that I didn’t know I had. That inner strength served as the foundation of my life. I don’t know that I would change that.
What past struggle has helped you build your inner strength? And how are you applying your inner strength in your journey?
I would love your review of Destined on Amazon. Your review can focus on answering the following question: Can you share how you were impacted by Destined?
Thank you for reading. Wishing you all the best.
Keep going!
Aminata Sy
Author of Destined: A Story of Resilience and Beating the Odds
