Juan Antonio Lloreda moved from Colombia to Miami in 2006 to live with his father after his mother's mother was diagnosed with cancer. He graduated high school in Miami in 2015 but had his student visa to attend Drexel University denied when he returned to Colombia to obtain it. This forced him to postpone college and remain in Colombia. While it was initially devastating, staying in Colombia allowed him to reconnect with the culture, learn Spanish again, make new friends, strengthen family ties, and attend a university in Cali until he could reapply for a student visa to the United States.

1. In response to question #1…
Coming to
Colombia
Juan Antonio Lloreda
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2. How it all started…
In 2004 my Father moved to the United States in hopes of starting his own
business and making a new life in Miami… At the time I was only 7 years old
and my Mother didn't want to be separated from my older brother & I, so we
stayed in Colombia.
My dad got an “E-2” Investors Visa and moved to Miami. Once in the US,
he opened doors to his business, Factor Brokers, a financial solutions firm.
Soon after my dad left, my Mom’s Mother was diagnosed with cancer… so
my mom decided it was probably best for my Brother and I to move with my
dad so she can look after her old lady.
In 2006 my brother and I moved to Miami, and under my fathers visa we
were granted the right to reside in the United States.
I didn't step foot in Colombia again until August, 2015.
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3. Life in the States
When my brother and I arrived in Miami, I was going into 4th grade… my
father enrolled us at the Key Biscayne Community School(KBCS)
I passed through Middle School at KBCS and eventually went on to a
private high school based in Miami, Gulliver Preparatory.
During my years at Gulliver I took courses like Biomedical sciences,
psychology, International Business, Mandarin Chinese, Economics
along with ordinary prerequisites.
On May 27th, 2015 I graduated High School and I was college bound.
After some decision-making, I decided Drexel University, a Business
School in Philadelphia, was my choice.
All I needed was a Student Visa in order to continue legally living and
studying in the United States…
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4. The Idea
Upon needing a Visa, I went back to
Colombia after 9 years of not being there.
The idea was simple.. go to Colombia two
weeks, get my Student Visa, return to the
US in order to start college at Drexel.
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5. What happened?
The idea wasn't so simple after all…
Knowing that if I didn't receive my student visa I wouldn't
be able to go back to the US… My family hired lawyers in
order to prepare for a visit to the US embassy in
Colombia. On August 3rd, 2015 I arrived at El Dorado
International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, with very few
memories of my once home country. I barely spoke any
Spanish as I forgot most of it during my time in the US.
Due to the fact that 4 years earlier my brother had
received his student visa with no problems, I arrived to
Colombia eager to once again see my country and with
high expectations to only be there a few weeks. If only I
knew how much my life would change…
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6. The Challenge
On the 5th of August, 2 days after my
arrival in Colombia… My visa was denied.
I was crushed… at the time this meant, I
would need to postpone my college, I
couldn't see my father, I couldn't see my
girlfriend, I had no friends and was forced
to live in a “new” city. I had very little
vision of what was really going on around
me..
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7. The Outcome
What at first was an endless nightmare… turned into the most
significant learning experience up to this point in my life.
With time, the solution to all my problems was found. Being in
Colombia gave me time to learn about myself. Soon after my Visa
was denied I had to decide what I was going to do. My first step
was to relearn Spanish and after this to find occupation until the
next semester of college. Between the months of August and
December I got a job at the local newspaper company as a
logistics manager. Friends? being in Colombia helped me re
establish relations with old friends whom I had lost contact with.
Being in Colombia also taught me about a completely different
culture. Different ways of thinking, I ate new foods, and visited
cities I hadn't been to in years. Most importantly I sealed
relationships with family members whom I barely saw because I
was living in the United States. In addition I began studying at a
top university in my hometown of Cali, Colombia.
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8. The Outcome
pt.2
The conclusion to my challenge was
simply to open my eyes and enjoy the
experience. When I first arrived in
Colombia everything was dark and
nothing seemed positive. With patience
and perseverance I found the answers to
my problems.
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