A place I see I belong in is Haiti, I have visited multiple times with my mother. What’s crazy is that when I visit I don’t see it as a place I’m going on vacation , I see it as a second home, that’s where my grandparents live as well and they have a house right near a huge lake that is absolutely breathtaking. Haiti is part of me. It is where she was raised and where my mom became who she is. That is where she met my father. If she didn’t meet him I wouldn’t be here. Every time I go to Haiti. A lot of assumptions are always made about Haiti because people haven’t really seen all parts but it is a beautiful place full of life. That is where my mother and father are from and I wouldn’t ask to be from anywhere else. Something I don’t experience in Boston is friendly neighbors and in Haiti everyone helps each other and it is such a great sense of community. Just stepping into the little town my mom is from just fills my heart and meeting all the people she grew up with and where she used to play. Whenever we go to Haiti a flow of stories come rolling in of all the things my mom did as a child and it is my favorite thing because I didn’t know how much me and my mom have in common we were both actually very mischievous children and I think it’s hilarious. I feel like visiting Haiti has brought me so much closer to my mom cause it helped me realize at one point she was just like me, I’m like the reincarnation of her. Places hold stories, memories all of the above and a part of my story was missing because I didn’t know anything about my mom’s story now I feel so in touch with a different part of my roots. I am closer to a part of my history I never acknowledged. I always knew I was Haitian I always identified as that I rep my flag every chance I get because that’s where my parents are from. Although I never really knew what it meant being a true Haitian until I was blessed with the opportunity to see the country. Community is big in Haiti , everyone helps each other and that changed me so much I used to only be concerned with my loved ones and myself but now I see the bigger picture life is about positivity impacting as many lives as you can. This is my home away from home and I will never forget it, and one day the cycle will continue when I bring my children there to learn about their grandmother and grandfathers backgrounds and connect it to their own. It is important for everyone to feel a sense of belonging because it’s what gets us through life and gives us the sense of direction we need at some point in life.