Speakers of other languages struggle when moving to a country with a language that they don’t speak. Misinformation, feeling left out, confused, or overwhelmed, as well as other language barriers, can make people feel unheard in their own communities. Mirianny, an English language learner, faced all of these challenges when she first arrived. While she was able to overcome them, many others still face the same obstacles. After going through a journey of acceptance and growth, she now feels empowered to share her story and support others who are trying to find their place in a new community. Hi, my name is Mirianny Beltre Bobe. I’m a student at Sleepy Hollow High School, currently transitioning from 11th to 12th grade. I’m someone who stays actively involved in my community in many ways. I use my voice to speak up as a member of the Student Equity Team and the Student Advisory Committee. I also share my perspective and personal journey through leadership roles, like leading the ENL Ambassador Club and participating in the Safe School Ambassador program. These experiences—along with many hours of community service—have helped shape me into the open, outgoing person that I am. As a first-generation Hispanic student from the Dominican Republic, I’m passionate about using my voice and story to shine a light on the challenges non-English speakers face, including language barriers, exclusion, and culture shock. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx