Daniela is an author, painter, advocate, inventor, and leader. Although born in the U.S., she went back to her home country, Venezuela, and immigrated back to the U.S. when she was 10 years old with only her mom. While handling the sacrifices and hardships of her immigrant family, her resilience and passion for art and expressing herself helped her flourish.

On the weekends, Daniela handles a part time job, loves to teach art at Breakthrough Miami–a collaborative summer program she applied and attended by herself when she first arrived into the country–, volunteers at her Best Buddies’ friendship circles and shares with kids with intellectual disabilities, helps fundraise for an organization that supports children who cross the U.S. border by themselves, and tutors English at her elementary school. Additionally, she helps her mom, an immigration paralegal, assist immigrants navigate the same struggles Daniela and her mom endured when they arrived in the country. Like her mom in Venezuela, Daniela aspires to become a lawyer who defends, advocates, and protects those in need. At school, she is president of Women of Tomorrow, vice president of Best Buddies, column editor of the newspaper, historian of Model UN, among other leadership roles in different clubs. Daniela simply loves getting engaged in the community that molded her. She keeps a journal where she writes, journals, paints, and creates anything that comes to her mind. Whether it is a self-portrait or a collage, you will see it in her journal.

Daniela immigrated from Venezuela with her mom due to financial situations and a fire in their home. After packing their lives in a suitcase, Daniela grasped the sacrifices her mom made and used them as leverage for her passions to flourish. She wants to help those in any struggling situation, easing their journey through their struggles.