When Elisabeth moved to Gloucester in December 2017, she left behind much more than her home country. She left behind family, friends, and a career she had worked hard to build.

A law school graduate in the Dominican Republic, Elisabeth came to the United States determined to create new opportunities for herself and her family.

“When I came here, I thought I knew some English,” she said. “But when people started speaking, I realized it was much harder than I expected.”

Although her first year was challenging – living with relatives, working at a local café, experiencing a Gloucester winter – she was determined to keep moving forward.

“I found Action Inc. right away because I knew what I wanted for myself,” Elisabeth said. “I didn’t want to stay in one place. I wanted opportunities.”

She enrolled in Action Inc.’s Adult Education program and spent the next five years building her English skills. The process took patience and persistence.

“In the beginning, it was tough,” she said. “Everything was new. But little by little, I kept improving.”

As her confidence grew, so did her opportunities. Elisabeth says the classes helped build the English skills she needed to navigate daily life, pursue professional goals, and prepare for her U.S. citizenship test.

“Without English, it would have been impossible,” she said. “Action Inc. helped me so much.”

Today, Elisabeth is a U.S. citizen, a mother of three, and a licensed real estate agent working on Cape Ann. While she continues to set new goals for herself, she is proud of how far she has come since arriving in Gloucester nearly eight years ago.

Looking back, Elisabeth sees education as an important part of that journey. The ability to communicate confidently opened doors that once felt out of reach and helped her build a foundation for the future she envisioned when she first arrived.

For others who may be starting a similar journey, her advice is simple:

“Try Action Inc. If they change your life the way they changed mine, you’ll be grateful forever.”