"My name is Estera. I am a mother of two little girls. I was born in Romania, in the Muntenia area. I’d describe myself as someone who listens quickly and speaks slowly, letting my actions speak louder than words. At the age of 8, my parents decided to move to Greece with my five siblings in search of a better life due to the economic crisis in Romania. I lived in Greece for 10 years, where I finished high school, and I can honestly say Greece is the country of my soul.
My journey then took me from Greece to England. In January 2016, on a rainy day, I boarded a plane from Greece to England. The flight was smooth and pleasant, but I didn’t realise the challenges that would come once I arrived. I didn’t understand that to have a decent life, I would first have to face many hardships and deprivations. A month later, I started walking around my new area looking for a school to learn English. Unfortunately, the tuition fee was too high - about £1,400 - so I couldn’t enrol.
But I didn’t give up. I bought the cheapest notebook and pen I could find, as I didn’t have much money, and started learning English on YouTube. You might wonder how I had internet access - I got it from my neighbours! I still have the notebook, though it's worn from all the writing and translating between English and Romanian.
Currently, I work from home, running a baking and pastry business called Baked with Love. I prepare a variety of desserts and appetisers, all from my own kitchen, and I’ve participated in several events since discovering my passion for baking in 2020. My biggest dream is to open my own bakery, where I can sell my products and become more well-known. I believe that God will make this dream come true at the right time. Until then, I will keep fighting for my dreams and refuse to let anyone discourage me. If I could give a piece of advice to my younger self, it would be: fight for your dreams and learn English!"
