I Came to New York to Study — And Lost Everything | Real-Life English

My name is Jessica. I am 25 years old. I am from Italy and I live in a small town with my parents. Our town is quiet and beautiful with small streets, old buildings, and friendly neighbors. I like my town, but I always dream of something more. I want to see the world and have new

experiences. I want to study in New York City. In my town, I study English at a small school. My teacher says, "Jessica, you are very good at English. You should study in another country." Her words make me happy. I start thinking about New York, a big city full of life and opportunities. I imagine myself walking on the busy

streets, learning in a real classroom, and speaking English every day. One day, a woman visits our town. She is from a big city in Italy and she looks very confident. She talks about a school in New York. She says, "This school is amazing. You will learn English very fast. Many students go there and they all love

it." Her words are exciting. She shows me pictures of the school and students smiling. She says, "You can study here, too. I can help you." I feel so excited. This is my chance. I want to go. The woman gives me some papers. She says, "Fill out these forms and give me the money for the school.

I will take care of everything." I believe her. She seems so nice and professional. I do not think about the risk. When I tell my parents about the school, they do not share my excitement. My father says, "New York is dangerous. You don't know anyone there." My mother says, "Are you sure about this woman? Do you

trust her? Be careful, Jessica." I listen to them, but I do not change my mind. I say, "This is my dream. I want to study English. I want to learn and grow." My father looks worried. He says, "Dreams are good, but you must think carefully. What if something goes wrong?" I smile and say, "Nothing will go wrong,