Marj Empire

Business mentor, Connector, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Life mentor, Performer, Sales specialist

Survivor of 2010 Haiti Earthquake turned into Founder and CEO of Blooming Biz and Mind. International speaker, Executive Coach, Philanthropist, community builder. Two times award winning leader. Married and Mom of two. October 25 TEDxMidvale Organizer

Music, Hosting, Community Building, Traveling

-The America Dream through the Lens of an International Student-

On April 18, 2023, I took the official oath to naturalize and become a United States citizen. This accomplishment was not due to marriage to an American or having American parents. As you read further, my story will make sense. I share my experience for three primary reasons: To educate Americans about the challenges immigrants face in this country and provide insight into our perspective. I hope to foster greater compassion and patience among those who work with immigrants , and encourage a deeper appreciation of the value that immigrants bring to society. To empower immigrants in the U.S., especially international students facing difficulties in achieving their goals. My journey may inspire anyone to keep pushing forward and never give up, as the light at the end of my tunnel could be the same for you Before sharing my story, let me help you understand what it means to be an immigrant, what it means for us, and what it means to America. After researching the number of successful, famous, and impactful immigrants in the US, I realized one important thing: immigrants have been a fundamental part of American society for centuries. Throughout history, we have brought diversity, innovation, and economic growth to the United States. We, immigrants come to America seeking new opportunities, freedom, and a better life for ourselves and our families. We face limitations and unbearable challenges. When I say challenges, I am not just talking about language barriers, cultural differences, or discrimination. Although these are very difficult, today I want to give you a different perspective and an example of the type of nightmares an immigrant might face on their way to achieving the American Dream. Picture this: you and your spouse are in a new, hopeful country full of dreams and opportunities with no hope back home where you came from. You are both international students, and you have a baby in that country that claimed that baby at birth, which you thought was a blessing. But then, you are fighting to keep your visa status despite being dropped by your sponsor. Your spouse still has an up-to-date status, but you are at risk of losing yours due to all these complications of losing the help you were promised until graduation, so, you are in a situation where an international student advisor tells you that: " you must leave the country" "Ma'am, what do you mean leave the country?" Sobbing... "When can I come back?" Them: "We do not have the answer to that" (which literally means that's none of our business, we don't care). "Please, I have a baby, what can I do? I'll do anything, please, I have nothing to go back to, I can't leave my baby... what about my husband? He has to go to school, and he works part-time on campus..." At that point, they left. It was lunchtime. Did you feel that pain? Let me take you way back, and break down how I got to that situation at the first place. I was born and raised in Haiti by a strong, resilient single mother. My father, on the other hand, left us when I was only six years old, without even bothering to get a divorce. It wasn't until I turned twelve that my mother revealed the full extent of his wickedness. She told me how he had attempted to abort me by putting a herbal concoction in her drink, hoping that she would miscarry, even though she was already ten weeks pregnant. But, as fate would have it, I survived. That was the last time I ever saw my father. From then on, my mother worked tirelessly to provide for my brother and me, despite living in a warzone-like environment where even finding enough food to eat was a daily struggle. I remember having to drink unsanitary water and suck on salt to ease the hunger pangs when we weren't harvesting. But my mother was determined to give us a better future, so she did whatever it took to ensure that we received the best education possible. My middle school education was challenging, to say the least. But my mother's friendship with the owner of an international school with an American curriculum proved to be a godsend. She managed to persuade the woman to let me attend her school in exchange for working for her. So my mother did just that – she worked as hard as she could for that woman, doing anything and everything she was asked to do, just so I could have a chance at a better life. That school, North American Preparatory School (NAPS), was an incredible opportunity that changed my life. Its American curriculum was so rigorous that it felt like university-level education. By the time I graduated, I was fluent in English, knowledgeable about America, and incredibly smart. I immediately landed prestigious jobs in Haiti, all thanks to my English proficiency. But my proudest achievement was being able to support my family and pay it forward to my mother, who had sacrificed so much for me. READ MORE in the link below: https://www.bloomsmagazine.com/marjdesiusfrominternational-students-story/

Cooking amazing Haitian gourmet food