Concerned School Counselor - Page 3

Originally Posted by concerned_counselor

I am not Latino. I do not pretend to understand the daily struggles that my Latino students and friends go throgh. I am willing and able to provide whatever information I can, to whomever I can, as often as I can. I am willing to learn from the Latino community. I would like to complete research on Latinos within the American school system. Until today, I'd never really thought about whether my Latino students would be allowed to matriculate into a college, university, trade school, community college, whatever.

Today, my 14 year old 8th grade student provided me with an education.
The conversation went something like this....

DG: Mrs. CC, you know how we're talking about going to high school, college, and what kind of careers we like?

CC: Yeah?

DG: Well, a lot of us can't go.

CC: Baby, yes you can. Anyone can go to college if they do what they are supposed to do in middle school and high school. You may get a scholarship or a loan, or something. You just have to want to go.
DG: No. We don't have our papers, so we can't go to college. My cousin is in 12th grade, and she has to move back to Mexico to go to college because she doesn't have her papers.

CC: Oh, sweetheart, I never thought about. I knew your parents didn't have their papers, but I just assumed you were born here.

DG: No, Person A, Person B (and the list of students continues) don't have their papers either. I don't know about the other Latinos, but I know the Mexicans here who dont' have their papers. Even if we make good grades and get into magnet schools we can't go to college. [I'd just recommended that this particular student apply for one of the local magnet schools].

CC: Are there any good colleges in Mexico?

DG: I don't know. But I don't want to go there to go to college.

CC: I know sweetie. You were born there, but you grew up here. This is home for you. I honestly don't know. I'm going to have to do some research and get back to you. Worst case, we can at least begin to look at what colleges Mexico has to offer, and find out which ones are the best. Or maybe, you can get a student visa. I just don't know.

DG: Okay.

CC: I'm sorry. I just don't know what else to tell you.


So this was the conversation I had about two hours ago. Once I got home, I spoke with a friend who I thought could help me. She told me about the DREAM Act.

I feel like crying for this student and every other student who is going through the same thing. I now understand why some of my students have no motivation to do well in, or even attend, school. What's the point when your hardwork doesn't pay off. We require all students, illegal immigrants or not, to attend school until they are 18 years old. We tell them the reward will be graduating from high school, then going off to college, and finally getting that dream job. The dream is a lie for some. We snatch it away before they even have a chance.

I empathize with all of you.
If you have any suggestions on what I can say to my Latino students, or what I can do with my Latino students that would be helpful, I am up for any and all suggestions.

Thanks for listening.

Originally Posted by EverElevate

i wish i had a counselor or a teacher that was as sympathetic as you. i really mean that.

As an American citizen Mrs. CC, you have far more influence then many of us. Please call senators and candidates and let them know that your an American citizen who wants the Dream act

Originally Posted by CIR_Dream2007

^ I had a bad experience with a counselor in high school. She kept badgering me about my Social Security number at her office when I wouldn't commit (the topic was my college application). It was not fun.

Originally Posted by CIR_Dream2007

^ No, I kept saying a variation of talk to my parents to every question about it. I guess I exasperated her because she asked almost the same exact same thing about my SS number and I basically had the same answer.