POWERGRAMS

17 "I had a very deep Spanish accent, and it was very difficult trying to fit in," Rojas said. "It was a time when I was embarrassed of being Hispanic." Knowing her daughter's struggles, Rojas' mom transferred her in third grade to a school with a large Hispanic student population. "That helped so much because it made me proud of being Hispanic and know that I'm not the only one." Because her parents spoke English as a second language, communicating was sometimes difficult for them, Rojas said. As far back as age 9, she was their translator. Rojas accompanied them to doctor appointments or on other errands, acting as interpreter. Rojas remembers that life in those days was often hard for her family, with her dad working several jobs and her mom being a housekeeper. Despite their struggles, the family felt at home in New York, Rojas said. "The beauty of New York is that a lot of people are bilingual. Even people who are not Hispanic would learn Spanish words," she said. "I remember seeing the faces of my mom and dad when someone would say, 'I know how to say it in Spanish.' That was a relief to them." A BIG CHANGE Life changed dramatically for the Rojas family after the terrorist attacks and the fall of the Twin Towers in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. Many people, including Rojas' mom, developed significant health issues because of the increased pollution and the debris fallout. Rojas said her mom had severe allergies, asthma and heart issues. Finally, at a doctor's suggestion, the family decided to look for "cleaner air" and joined relatives already living in Montgomery. Rojas moved to the city on July 7, 2007 – her 16th birthday. With few Hispanics living in Montgomery at the time, she remembers the move as a "big transition" for the family. School was a huge adjustment and fitting in was hard, Rojas said. She was required to attend English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, although she spoke the language fluently. "I felt I was being isolated and taken away from my class," said Rojas. "It got to the point that I didn't speak Spanish because I didn't want to be separated from my class." Many of the students laughed at Rojas' accent and called her "the Mexican." She remembers one instance at Walmart when a store employee loudly blurted, "I wish these Mexicans would Office sign urges Spanish-speaking customers to take health safety precautions.

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