Clarke Central High School sophomore Emilyn Zapata poses on a bench in front of CCHS on Feb. 15. Zapata moved to the United States in 2017 from Colombia. “It was fun (living in Colombia). I liked the weather — really the whole year round was summer for me. I had a lot of friends,” Zapata said. “I enjoyed living there, (and) when I moved it was like starting from zero — new friends, new house, new language, well I learned English there but I had to start practicing a lot.” Photo by Elena Gilbertson Hall
The ODYSSEY Media Group will provide viewers with stylized profiles that center on people in the Athens community telling their own stories.
Sophomore Emilyn Zapata moved to the United States to start her freshman year at Clarke Central High School. Her strong sense of optimism has carried her through the difficult transition.
Clarke Central High School sophomore Emilyn Zapata spent the first 14 years of her life in the nation of Colombia. Surrounded by friends, family and warm weather, Emilyn was rarely found without a smile on her face.
On what felt like a normal Tuesday in the spring of 2017, everything changed. When she learned her family would be moving to the United States for her father to pursue a Ph.D. program, Emilyn had to say goodbye to the people who had shaped her life.
Getting off the plane in Athens, Georgia, the mild autumn and American food was dull in comparison to the year-round warmth and lively food scene of Cali, Colombia.
But Emilyn approached her new life with unbreakable optimism.
For some, a new school, new language and new home could be overwhelming. Coming from an environment where she was always at the center of a group of friends, Emilyn’s first day at CCHS — where she knew no one — was daunting.
But it was also a chance to start fresh.
“When I was back in Colombia, I had a lot of toxic friends. I had a lot of fake friends,” Emilyn said. “I learned from that, so when I moved here I was like, ‘OK, Emilyn, you have to pick your friends. Get to know them first and see if they’re really nice.’”
Now, as a sophomore, Emilyn has found her place in the U.S. She is a member of the CCHS cross country and swim teams, a dedicated student and a friend to many. Emilyn credits her successful transition to life in America to her sense of everlasting humor and positivity.
“It’s hard sometimes (to keep my optimism), but when I’m with friends who know what they want to do in life, I know those are my type of friends and they help me to grow as a person,” Emilyn said. “And I love to see people laugh a lot. I just tell jokes and make more friends.”
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