Yamilet
Yamilet Ramos’s journey with Branches is a testament to the transformative power of dedication, community support, and resilience. Yamilet first joined Branches at the age of four, starting in Pre-K. Although she faced the challenge of not speaking English due to her time spent in El Salvador, Yamilet quickly learned the language with the help of Branches, where she found love, belonging, and endless opportunities.
Despite an unstable home life, Branches became her sanctuary, offering consistent support in education, spiritual growth, and friendships. As an older sister, Yamilet took on the responsibility of caring for her baby sister, a role she embraced with maturity beyond her years. Her perseverance shone through even more when she was sent back to El Salvador in high school, only to return and re-engage with Branches, determined to overcome any obstacles in her path.
Math was a particular challenge for Yamilet, but with the guidance of the Branches Climb team, she overcame this hurdle and later became a math tutor herself. Her resilience didn’t stop there—despite becoming pregnant in high school, she not only graduated but also earned a scholarship that allowed her to pursue her Associate of Arts degree at Miami Dade College. After taking a short break, she went on to achieve her bachelor’s degree with an impressive 3.8 GPA. Thanks to her hard work and the support from Branches, including the Climb Higher Scholarship, Yamilet graduated debt-free. The scholarship, coupled with Branches’ assistance in finding additional financial resources, enabled her to focus on her studies and excel.
Today, Yamilet is not only a proud college graduate but also a devoted mother to her three sons, Jekson, who is in middle school, Ezekiel, who is in elementary school and Emmanuel, who just started PK3. Both of her older boys are following in their mother’s footsteps by participating in Branches’ educational programs.
Yamilet’s love for her community is evident in her continued involvement with Branches. She volunteers at numerous events, such as the 30 Hour Famine, the Florida City Love Yourself initiative, and the Thanksgiving Meal Prep and delivery. Her passion for giving back also extends to her local church, Branches United Methodist Church, with the worship and outreach team, and tutoring students in the Branches Grow program. Yamilet’s story is one of triumph over adversity, and we eagerly look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success of her family with Branches by their side.
