PS: After your parents were taken, you had this incredible support system. Your family friends took you in. It must've given you a great sense of community and hope.
DG: Absolutely. I don’t ever think for one second that I could’ve done this by myself. And those are some of the values that we have in the Latino community, where we help our comadres, we help our people next door. I think — and that’s what I’ve experienced in my family and what I've experienced when I go to Colombia, when I go to Mexico — we are very giving people. This is our culture.
I just learned that I had to be very grateful and that it was OK to ask for help when it made sense. I really wanted to show to myself that I can do all of these things on my own, that I am self-reliant, that I am resilient, but this community, even my high school, protected me. It was my safe haven. These families helped me. My teachers encouraged me. I couldn't have done any of what I’m doing right now if people didn't support me and show me that kind of love and affection.
