Newcomer

Hi all,

I guess I've been lurking for quite a few years, but I never really had the willpower to actually sign up. I'm 22 going on 23 this year, and I'm basically your classic DREAM case. Fortunately, I graduated valedictorian and got into a really good school and was able to manage. It was tough last year financially and I'm saddled with loans from my school, but at least I finished.

I guess I've just gotten increasingly bitter since I had to deny myself jobs and opportunities (really nice ones, too) because of my status. People keep asking me why I'm not doing this or that, but it's so tiring and demoralizing to answer. I have to lie everyday and I fight with my parents who continuously say "things will get better." I found out when I was young, talked to lawyers since I was a teenager, and every idea that I had to try to settle my case, my parents shot down saying that I've got nothing to worry about (riiiiggghhht). Seriously, my GPA fluctuated based on how depressed I was about my immigration case. It was pretty bad relatively speaking senior year of college.

Well, the DREAM Act has been out since 2001 and I really hope that this year, it will finally get passed. However, every time I get my hopes up, I crash when things don't work out. I hate talking to my friends since they all have great jobs (in banking, consulting) or in really good grad schools (med schools, masters programs) and they just look at me with pity. I can't date for this very reason; I can't trust anyone really since I'm so afraid that they'll find out and use the information against me.

I guess I signed up since I need more friends or people like me who are going through the same issues. After graduating with a great GPA, I was baby sitting 80 hours a week for a 140 dollars for the last two months and I don't have that job anymore. I'm so desperate since I live in the NYC area and I've been scanning craigslist for something, anything since I'm getting more depressed and my family is ridiculously in debt.

I've been voting and spreading the word and what not, but it's so hard to do so when you don't want people to know WHY, you know? Because people can put 2 and 2 together and then it's over... It's not that I'm ashamed, but it's just that I'm worried if someone finds out about me, what will happen to my family.

Sigh. Long post. Sorry.

welcome tiffany!
thanx for voting and for becoming part of our community!
we came in 8th place in change.org and hopefully this year will be our year.
congratulations on being valedictorian. im still in high school & unfortunatelly i gave up hope last year and that really brought me down from the highest ranks i hope everything goes better for your family this year. make sure to stick around!

Hey Tiffany!
Welcome!! Thanks for sharing, I still have to get the courage to post my story here. I find this place very welcoming, and I feel safe. It is hard when you have to turn down job offers and people ask why. Keep your head up though, try not to let bad feelings take over you. I've told a few friends about my situation and they're supportive, but some just give me the pity talks so lately I've drifted from them. I know how terrible it is to be depressed, but ever since I started coming here and chatting with others I feel better. You're not alone! About the voting, well I emailed some other friends that don't know about my situation and told them I have a very close friend that needs the DREAM Act and explained why it's important for me to support my friend. Of course, I can only do this with people who I'm not very close to and think "i'm taking a break from school" (but i love school!!!!). Maybe you can join us in the chat room one of these days. I hope things get better soon

Hey Tiff... WELCOME!! I understand how you feel when you've had to pass up on an incredible job offer. That's something that I can definitely relate to. I've heard my parents say "Things will get better" over the years as well, and the only advice I can give you is to try to understand that they say that because that's what they hope for. Maybe not so much for themselves but for you. I use to get frustrated when my parents would tell me that, especially because I felt that years kept going by and still nothing.... no law or amnesty that would help us out. Then I realized that they were only trying to be positive and say the same things I would say to them. That's what keeps me going.. HOPE... the hope that things will get better and that when they do I will finally be able to have the job I want, the car I want, and the lifestyle that I've worked so hard to obtain. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!!

Hi, Tiff welcome and thanks for joining all of us here. Yes I been there with the whole I can't take the offer cause i made up some bs excuse. Your parents tell you its gonna get better because they have hope and that's one thing you can't lose.Also there is nothing to be ashamed about our situation. You have to look on the bright side we appreciate the small things that people take for granted.

Welcome to DAP ...

Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I really really needed them right now.

Sometimes I'm hopeful, other times, I'm not and I just sink into a depression. Trying to fight it though.

Hey Tiff!! and ~*Welcome~*. You,I and pretty much everyone on this forum (exclude) the wana-be dreamers..are united by one Hope and that is for Dream Act to be voted a big "YES" and passed! We are seeing changes like the first black president in this country and so forth.This is going to be a great year for many things including the rebuilding of a better a greater America. Stick around girly and enjoy the ri!i!ide =D

This is our year. Keep your head up.




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