Driven by a desire to be reunited with her mother who had come to the U.S. a couple years earlier, Ana Becerril and her brother embarked on a long and difficult journey from Mexico through the desert and crossed the border as undocumented immigrants. After being reunited, the family finally settled in Scranton, where Ana has since been building a new life and feels Scranton to be her second home.

Maria Luna, Ana’s younger sister, was born in the U.S., and after moving back and forth between New York and New Jersey, grew up in Scranton. She recalls struggling in school due to being the only English speaker in her home but appreciates the help of her sister Ana and her teachers, especially one mentor, Mr. Garvey.

While she was born in the U.S., Maria feels Mexican due to her familial and cultural roots and is grateful for the efforts her family made to make life in the United States possible for her. Maria hopes for a safer, more peaceful future in the United States with less gun violence and is excited for her sister Ana who recently received her U.S. work permit.