Good evening.
First, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here today and share my story.
I came to this valley from Puerto Rico in the summer of 2020. I was looking for a change, a new opportunity, and a new beginning in my life.
Before coming to Colorado, I worked as a teacher in a public school in Puerto Rico. I was also the owner of an educational center where we helped students after school.
Puerto Rico went through some very difficult times. First, we had Hurricane Maria. Then we had earthquakes. And after that, COVID. All of this affected the economy and also my educational business.
After all of this, I knew I needed a change. I needed a new opportunity. I saw a job opening in Colorado and decided to apply.
The funny thing is, I didn’t know the job was in the mountains! But I decided to take the opportunity. I packed my things and came to the valley… with my seven dogs. When I arrived here, I loved this place. But I also learned very quickly that housing in this valley is very expensive.
During my first years here, I lived in a two-bedroom home. The rent was around three thousand three hundred dollars a month. I remember working a lot just to be able to afford the cost of living here. But little by little, this valley became more than just the place where I worked.
I have been a teacher for more than 20 years. Here in Eagle County, I have continued doing what I love. I work in special education, helping students who need a lot of support.
During these years, I have grown a lot, both as a teacher and as a person. I have made good friends. I have worked with wonderful families. And I have had the opportunity to help many students. Little by little, I started to feel that I belonged here. This valley became my community. It became my home.
But there was still one big problem: housing. I wanted to stay here, but I didn’t know if I could afford to live here in the future. I had already started thinking that when my lease ended, I might have to leave. Maybe I would go back to Puerto Rico or move somewhere else and start over again.
And then came Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat changed my plans.
For the first time, I could stop thinking about leaving and start thinking about my future here.
Having the opportunity to help build and buy my own home means so much to me. It means stability. It means peace of mind. It means security. And most importantly, it means I can stay here and call this place my home.
Now I can think about my future here. I can continue doing the work I love. I can continue helping students and families. And I can continue being part of this community.
I am very grateful to Habitat, the donors, the volunteers, and everyone who makes this possible.
Because you are not only helping me build a house.
You are helping me build a future.
You are giving me the opportunity to stay here, to continue helping my community, and to call this valley my home.
And that means so much to me.
Thank you very much
