It has been 13 years since Annmarie Small came to America from Jamaica in hopes of achieving a better life for her and her son.

After Small emigrated to Tallahassee, Florida in 2007, she began working as an elementary school teacher at Cornerstone Learning Academy.

Not only did the school provide her with a steady job, it also introduced her to a loving community of supportive teachers and students, many of whom greeted her at the airport when her plane first landed from Jamaica.

So when it was finally time for her to earn her US citizenship last week, she was surrounded by dozens of her current and former students cheering her on.

"I use the term ‘bag of emotions' because that's exactly what it was," 42-year-old Small told WFTS about the heartwarming event. "When everything was quiet after the ceremony and I went home, I cried, and it was tears of joy.

"I'm so happy the process is over now because it's been a long process," she added. "And there were tears of joy because I've had the support of Cornerstone since day one."

(WATCH the video below)

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