Me

Jalitza Louise Poveda was the name given to me on November 17, 1985 when I was born. I was born in Harlem, NY to my mom Kenia Guzman who is my life. I don’t really know why my mother named me Jalitza; she said she wanted to be creative and that it means a “powerful river.” But who would have known that I, the powerful river, would have been born into a life of hardship? Could my name be considered a misnomer? Who would have known my father would have walked out of my life when I was only 1 year old?
As any child, I have wondered why my father has abandoned me. I don’t know much about him except that his name is David Velardes. Half of my heritage comes from him and I have two half sisters. He is Dominican, Peruvian and African American. Other than that, I know nothing else. Sometimes I cry over him even though I pretend to be this very strong person emotionally. But I am not and because of this, I have grown to be a person who conceals her emotions until it hurts. I really d...