Kericho County - For years, each rejection letter felt like a door firmly shut, but for Sharon Ngetich, giving up was never an option. The young woman from Ngecherok village in Kapsoit ward has finally realised her long-held dream of moving to the US after 10 unsuccessful visa applications.

On her eleventh attempt, Sharon was granted a US green card, a breakthrough that marked the end of a journey defined by resilience, sacrifice, and quiet determination. 

Her path was anything but easy. With each failed application came disappointment, yet she refused to abandon her ambition.

Instead, she turned to hard work to keep her dream alive during her time as a student, from labouring in flower farms at Karuturi in Naivasha to plucking tea leaves at the Finlays tea plantation in Kericho.

She later found work at Naivas supermarket, stocking shelves to juggle fees, rent, and save money for endless visa attempts.

“It was not easy,” she says, reflecting on the years of uncertainty. “But I knew what I wanted, and I kept going.”

 

Sharon Ngetich: Kenyan Woman Finally Secures US Green Card After 10 Visa Denials Source: Facebook

Her persistence eventually paid off in a moment she describes as life-changing, the approval that opened the door to a new chapter thousands of miles away.

Now settled in North Carolina, Sharon is navigating the realities of starting over in a foreign land with culture shock, learning unfamiliar job markets, and dealing with homesickness. 

Like many newcomers, she faces the challenge of finding stable work and adjusting to a different culture, far from the familiarity of home. Still, she remains hopeful.

While the transition has tested her in new ways, she holds firmly to the belief that perseverance carried her through her toughest years and will continue to guide her as she builds a new life abroad.

"Prayer, persistence, and a good heart all the time," she says with a smile. "America isn't easy, but I'm here to build something lasting."  MSN