I moved between New York and the Dominican Republic as a kid. I was made fun of because of my accent.

• I was born in the Dominican Republic, and my parents divorced when I was 1. • They moved to New York, and I stayed with my grandparents until I was 6. • People made fun of my accent growing up, but I'm proud of my ability to speak every vernacular.

I was born in the Dominican Republic. My parents divorced when I was a year old, and they both came to the United States independently of each other. I was left in the care of my maternal grandparents.

When I was 6, my mother came back to get me after completing my paperwork and establishing herself in the Bronx, New York. In my hyperthymesia mind, I remember her exactly as I saw her for the first time: wearing a blue, azure suit, a white shirt, black heels, and dark brown mid-length hair curled with a bold red lip. She also had a son wi