The opinions expressed in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carolina Journal or its publisher.
I still remember the moment I knew we had to leave Venezuela.
There had been a quiet but growing realization that hope was shrinking, as the system was stacking against us. I had an education, ambition, and dreams, but opportunity was systematically being rationed. Coming to the United States wasn’t about chasing luxury or even an easy life. It was about living with the promise of freedom. Like so many immigrant families like mine, we believe in the American promise: Work hard, play by the rules, and your children’s dreams can come true. A better future is waiting.
For me, that promise became real through my children’s education, through school choice.
In Venezuela, education was assigned and controlled. Parents’ voices were small and powerless. In North Carolina, I discovered how different things could be. Parents matter! Every mother wants their children to learn in a school where they are safe, supported, and challenged. Here, I was encouraged to play an active role in their education.
Through programs like the Opportunity Scholarship Program and ESA+, I was given financial support to choose private schools that were aligned with what each of my children needed. Not only did it change the trajectory of their lives — it changed mine too. While my children were thriving at school, I put deep roots here through work, building a business, and contributing to my community.
Today, I help other Hispanic and Latino families do the same by helping them find the schools where their children can thrive too.
Many of the parents I help are just like I was — they love their children, they are hardworking and hopeful, but they are overwhelmed with an educational system they don’t fully understand. Some are new to the United States, and others were born here but don’t know they have options. North Carolina is far more than a place where educational freedom is a talking point or a far-fetched dream. It’s a reality, and thousands upon thousands of families have had doors swung wide open to them through the Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+.
Scholarship applications for the 2026-27 school year open on Feb. 2, 2026. For families who are navigating the process for the first time, particularly if English is a second language, it can help to have someone walk beside them as they take the first step. That is why I spend my time helping parents understand their options and take their first step with information and confidence.
The American dream is alive and educational freedom is real. As North Carolina families prepare for the upcoming application season, my hope is simple: that more parents realize they have a choice and that their choice can change everything. It did for my children and for me.
