![]() My sole focus at that age was to learn English and excel in my studies, and nothing would deter me from that pursuit.” We were labeled as ‘greaseballs’ or derogatorily referred to as ‘spics.’ While it was undoubtedly a trying time for me, I refused to succumb to the pressure from either side. “The ‘regular’ kids regarded us, the bilingual students, as something different. “As school began, I encountered a different set of challenges,” Jordan said. He went on to say that most of the kids around him, both at school and at home, were born in the U.S. You know, the double and triple-deckers.” I found myself amidst towering structures, which, at the time, I thought of as skyscrapers. The concept of buildings in Leominster was quite different from what I was used to, as they seemed to surround me. “I couldn’t speak a word of English, and my upbringing in the Puerto Rican countryside felt worlds away from my new surroundings at 45 Laurel Street in Leominster. “During that time, it seemed like kids everywhere delighted in poking fun at anyone who appeared different,” Jordan shared. from the island of Puerto Rico he was “completely unfamiliar with the language and culture, which posed immense challenges.” He vividly remembers the Spanish-speaking kids, including himself, being bullied because they were “different, a new kid, and spoke no English.” Jordan recalled that when he arrived in the U.S. The author with his wife Eugenia, who he said “has been the driving force behind my decision to share my life story.” COURTESY ARAMIS JORDAN) Jordan shares the invaluable lesson that regardless of one’s starting point or present environment, dreams are attainable through unwavering determination and belief. The release states that his book offers readers a captivating window into a life marked by abandonment and adversity and serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human heart. Jordan said his alcoholic mother abandoned him at the age of seven and that he “came close to dying in Puerto Rico.” He found a family that took him in until the age of 12, when they gave him back to his mother, who brought him to the U.S. His journey began with the uphill battle of learning a new language and breaking free from the limitations of a bilingual program that held him back. Yet, throughout it all, he clung to the unwavering belief in the American dream. ![]() His early years were marked by the anguish of an abusive home life, during which he struggled to cope with his mother’s tumultuous relationships and alcoholism. Jordan faced daunting odds when he set foot on the mainland of the United States as a skinny Puerto Rican youth unable to speak a word of English. In his book he paints a vivid picture of finding solace and inspiration in the simplest things, including a peanut butter and jelly sandwich - a staple of American childhoods that to him symbolized hope and resilience and motivated him to transcend his challenging circumstances, according to a press release. Jordan immigrated from Puerto Rico to Leominster in 1978 at the age of 12. LEOMINSTER – Longtime city resident Aramis Jordan recently penned “Searching for My PB & J Sandwich: My American Dream,” an inspirational memoir about growing up in the city from the point of view of a Puerto Rican youth embarking on a quintessential quest for a better life.
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