My STORY

My name is Gabriela Puckett. I was born in Cuba in 1997, and I spent the first 17 years of my life under a communist regime—a system that controlled not just the government, but nearly every aspect of daily life. In Cuba, there was no freedom of speech, no free press, no right to buy or sell as we pleased, no freedom to travel, no right to dream freely, and certainly no freedom to be who we truly wanted to be.

From a young age, I was brainwashed in school. We were taught every day that Cuba was the best country in the world, and that while Cuban children were the happiest, children in America were homeless and working on the streets just to eat. That lie was repeated so often, it became our reality.

There were only four television channels, all controlled by the regime. They showed endless footage of war, poverty, and suffering around the world—but only ever good news about Cuba. Internet access was a luxury reserved for those who worked for the government. Ordinary Cubans had no connection to the outside world. The only truth I had came from my parents and my grandmother.

From a young age, I was brainwashed in school. We were taught every day that Cuba was the best country in the world, and that while Cuban children were the happiest, children in America were homeless and working on the streets just to eat. That lie was repeated so often, it became our reality.

There were only four television channels, all controlled by the regime. They showed endless footage of war, poverty, and suffering around the world—but only ever good news about Cuba. Internet access was a luxury reserved for those who worked for the government. Ordinary Cubans had no connection to the outside world. The only truth I had came from my parents and my grandmother.

My grandmother had lived through 20 years before communism took over. She remembered when people could farm their land, buy what they needed, and access medical care. She told stories about how much beef they used to eat—something I could only imagine, since I grew up rarely seeing meat on my plate. Her memories painted a different Cuba, one I never got to live in.

My parents worked in the tourism industry, which gave them rare glimpses of life beyond our island. They understood that we were being lied to. They taught me the truth about Cuba and communism—that we were not free, and that there was another way to live. A life with dignity, opportunity, and choice. A life where people could speak their minds, follow their dreams, and live without fear. They helped me see that the world outside Cuba was not the nightmare we were taught, but a place where hope and freedom still existed.

My parents worked in the tourism industry, which gave them rare glimpses of life beyond our island. They understood that we were being lied to. They taught me the truth about Cuba and communism—that we were not free, and that there was another way to live. A life with dignity, opportunity, and choice. A life where people could speak their minds, follow their dreams, and live without fear. They helped me see that the world outside Cuba was not the nightmare we were taught, but a place where hope and freedom still existed.

From an early age, I learned that what was said at home could never be repeated at school. If I shared the truth, my parents could be taken, punished, or worse. I had to choose: believe my family, or believe my teachers, the television, the newspapers, and the radio.

I chose my family.

Living in a dictatorship taught me one of life’s most valuable lessons: the power of a united family. When a nation strips you of your freedoms, when your government controls your mind, your body, and your dreams, a strong family becomes your resistance. Ours gave us strength. We overcame fear. And, together, we found freedom.

I also learned that under communism, the youth are always the first target. The brainwashing begins in school. Children are slowly pulled away from their parents. They're taught to inform on their families. They’re told to see anyone who questions the system as a traitor. The goal is clear: to make the young more loyal to the regime than to their own blood.

Today, I watch with deep concern as similar tactics are being used in the United States. Marxist ideology is spreading in American classrooms. Children are being taught to see themselves as either victims or oppressors based solely on their skin color, ethnicity, or gender identity. These divisions are not random—they are intentional, strategic, and destructive.

Even more alarming, every year, young Americans are taken to Cuba by organizations that are openly aligned with the Cuban Communist Party. They are led by figures like Cuban spy Gerardo Hernández, and they are shown a carefully crafted illusion—a false Cuba meant to convince them that communism is just and fair. These students return home carrying the misinformation and tools needed to continue spreading the ideology here in America. This is not just a cultural shift. This is a coordinated effort to win a cultural war—a war that communism is slowly winning unless we act now. The youth is key to changing what's happening.

Youth For Liberty was created with the intention to empower young Americans to defend liberty, individual rights, and limited government through education and civic action. Our mission is to promote free enterprise, the U.S. Constitution, and the values that have made this country great, while exposing the dangers of communism for what they truly are.

It is important to teach the youth not only about the crimes and repression caused by communism, but also about the economic failure that communism represents. We must emphasize the value of a free market, a free economy, and free enterprise. These principles are the backbone of innovation, prosperity, and personal liberty. Capitalism, despite its imperfections, is the only system that allows individuals to pursue dreams, build businesses, create wealth, and uplift communities.

Youth For Liberty was created with the intention to empower young Americans to defend liberty, individual rights, and limited government through education and civic action. Our mission is to promote free enterprise, the U.S. Constitution, and the values that have made this country great, while exposing the dangers of communism for what they truly are.

It is important to teach the youth not only about the crimes and repression caused by communism, but also about the economic failure that communism represents. We must emphasize the value of a free market, a free economy, and free enterprise. These principles are the backbone of innovation, prosperity, and personal liberty. Capitalism, despite its imperfections, is the only system that allows individuals to pursue dreams, build businesses, create wealth, and uplift communities.

We must teach young Americans the truth about communism—not as a distant threat, but as a real danger that could take root here. Education is the key to defending freedom. That means not just teaching history, but encouraging critical thinking, civic involvement, and moral courage.

Youth must also understand the importance of political engagement. Preserving freedom demands more than passive agreement—it requires action. By voting, attending local meetings, organizing in communities, and even running for office, young Americans can ensure the survival of our freedoms.

My story is not just about surviving communism. It is about recognizing it when it returns in new forms. I speak out not because I hate, but because I love—freedom, truth, and the country that gave me a second chance. America must stay vigilant. The freedom so many take for granted is fragile. And once it's gone, it may take generations to get it back.

We must teach young Americans the truth about communism—not as a distant threat, but as a real danger that could take root here. Education is the key to defending freedom. That means not just teaching history, but encouraging critical thinking, civic involvement, and moral courage.

Youth must also understand the importance of political engagement. Preserving freedom demands more than passive agreement—it requires action. By voting, attending local meetings, organizing in communities, and even running for office, young Americans can ensure the survival of our freedoms.

My story is not just about surviving communism. It is about recognizing it when it returns in new forms. I speak out not because I hate, but because I love—freedom, truth, and the country that gave me a second chance. America must stay vigilant. The freedom so many take for granted is fragile. And once it's gone, it may take generations to get it back.