My name is Jessica Pina. I’ve lived in Roxbury for the first nine years of my life. I then moved to Dorchester, where I currently reside. My parents emigrated from Cape Verde, in search for a better life. I grew up with two older sisters and two older brothers. I am the youngest; therefore, I’ve had positive role models all my life.

 

My goals are to finish high school and continue my journey onto college, where I plan to study psychology and sociology. I am curious about how the world around me affects me, and how I can help people in any way I know how. My dream is to one day become successful enough to own my own business where I can not only help people, but also motivate them to become all they can be.

 

I have learned to take problems not as a downfall, but instead transform them into a stepping stone towards success.

There is a lot of struggle, and pain happening right now, and it’s affecting people’s health, lives, and future. I hope to someday be able to fix some of these problems, and help my city rise above all its negative aspects.