{
  "id": 10055785,
  "title": "I moved between 2 countries and languages as a teen. I got very good at proving myself.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/i-moved-between-2-countries-and-languages-as-a-teen-i-got-very-good",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T19:56:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/immigrant-student-learned-english-reading-newspapers-writing-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in a bilingual household, I transitioned between Spanish and English as a teenager. My academic journey involved attending two schools in Spanish in the Dominican Republic, followed by two English-speaking schools in the United States. At the start of high school, I was immediately placed in an ESL class upon arriving in the US, without any assessment or conversation. This experience fueled my determination to prove myself and my abilities in both languages. The constant need to demonstrate my language skills led me to adopt assertive behaviors, such as raising my hand excessively and correcting teachers on grammar. One incident involved being accused of plagiarism for a well-written essay on the Civil War, which was met with my mother's unwavering support. In my new school in New York City, I sought advice on improving my writing skills and was advised to read the daily newspapers. This habit became the foundation of my writing abilities, as I built upon them one word at a time. My experience of being constantly misjudged due to my dual cultural background taught me to read situations quickly and adapt my communication style accordingly. By proving my worth in various environments, I grew to understand that my language and cultural identity were not barriers, but assets that I could leverage to my advantage. This journey taught me the importance of self-assurance and the power of persistence in overcoming societal prejudices.",
  "summary": "I attended four high schools while moving between the US and Dominican Republic. Constantly being misjudged taught me to advocate for myself.",
  "key_points": [
    "Moved between Dominican Republic and US as a teenager",
    "Transitioned between Spanish and English fluently",
    "Proved worth through assertive behaviors and persistence"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}