Native Honduran will cast first ballot on Election Day

• Gomez

Yadira Gomez takes a break with her daughter, Daniella, while studying ESL classes at the West Learning Center. Gomez earned her U.S. citizenship in September.

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WORTHINGTON — Thirty-six-year-old Yadira Gomez came across the U.S. border illegally back in 2003 because she wanted better opportunities for herself and a better life for her children.

She made it to Worthington, married Texas native Inocencio Gamez in 2005 and then returned to her native Honduras in 2007 to complete an interview to obtain her green card.

Gomez earned that coveted card in June 2008, and has since taken the necessary steps to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

She began studying for the citizenship test in January by enrolling in classes at the West Learning Center in Worthington. For two hours a day, two days a week, she worked through flash cards — answering a hundred questions on everything from who the last justice was to join the Supreme Court, to what are the rights of U.S. citizens.

Gomez passed her citizenship test and interview, and in September was among dozens of other individuals to take part in a naturalization ceremony in Minneapolis. Joining her for the celebration were her husband, two daughters, two sons, her dad and her brother.

Today, Gomez is proud to call herself an American citizen.

“Life’s better. I feel safe,” she said. “I love America.”

As part of her rights as a new American, Gomez plans to vote in Tuesday’s election.

“I’m excited about this,” she said earlier this week. “I have the right to vote — it’s my responsibility to vote.”

Gomez realizes there are people who have lived their entire lives as American citizens, and yet have never cast a ballot in an election.

“That’s not good,” she said. “Everybody has to vote. It’s the responsibility of all citizens.”

Since earning her citizenship, Gomez continues to take classes at the West Learning Center to improve her English. Her children, on the other hand, are growing up with English and Spanish languages spoken in school and at home.

“They know two languages, so I hope they get a good education,” she said of Christopher, 13; Michelle, 12; Daniella, 7; and Isaac, 22 months.

Gomez said she’s glad they are enrolled in good schools here. In her native Honduras, the schools were “not good.”

“There are a lot of thieves. They take your money, everything you have, it’s no good,” she said. “It’s not safe for kids to go to school.”

In addition to taking ESL classes, Gomez and her husband both work full-time at JBS in Worthington.

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