Photo by Skip Lawrence Josmayre Soler is celebrating her first Fourth of July as a U.S. citizen.

Soler, 23, passed the citizenship test last Tuesday and pledged her loyalty to the United States.

"I feel good being a part of this country," she said.

The slender woman with a gentle smile was born in the Dominican Republic. She arrived in New Jersey seven years ago on a permanent resident visa. Seven months later, she applied to become a U.S. citizen. Her family moved to Frederick in 2005.

Soler said she wanted to come to the United States for educational and economic opportunities. In her birth country, many college graduates can't find jobs, and her course of study -- international business -- isn't taught in the universities.

Here, she can pursue her goals. Soler is studying at Frederick Community College and hopes to work some day for an export/import company.

She is the second person in her family to earn U.S. citizenship. Her mother took the oath in September. Her father and a younger sister have applied and are waiting to take the test. A younger brother remains in the Dominican Republic and hopes to immigrate to the U.S. soon.

Last week, friends at Centro de Familia, an immigrant aid center where Soler volunteers, welcomed her with a red, white and blue frosted cake and a bilingual copy of the U.S. Constitution.

"Now, you bring your thread to add to the American fabric," said Richard Yer—n, president of the center's board of directors.

For Soler, gaining citizenship here is like being adopted by a loving woman.

A child's soul and physical appearance reflect traits and attributes of her birth mother, yet she soon grows to love and respect her adoptive mother, Soler said.

She plans to spend her first Independence Day as a U.S. citizen outdoors, surrounded by other celebrants at Baker Park, and then travel to Washington. And, she said, she's eagerly learning to sing the national anthem.

"I'm proud to celebrate this day because now it is important to me also," Soler said.