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DAP Forums > Other Topics > New Members

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#1
04-13-2009, 01:38 AM
Junior Member
From Dallas, Texas
Joined in Apr 2009
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chacumen
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Hello, I want to start off with my story.

My name is Jose, I was born in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. My last birthday spent in Mexico was my seventh birthday, 6 months later I came to the United States, I settled in Dallas, Texas with my family. Although it makes no difference, I'd like to say, I did not come into this country illegally. I came here with a passport and visa. I got checked at the border just like anyone else who crosses legally, however, I was practically labeled as undocumented once I overstayed my visa. I enrolled into school here, starting off in second grade. By third grade, my English vocabulary was good enough for me to be able to speak for myself. By sixth grade, I had mastered the English language and I lost my accent altogether. Growing up as a kid, I didn't think much about my social status, it didn't bother me at all because either way, there's not much you can do as a kid regardless of if a kid is illegal or not. I was a smart kid, although I did not have the grades to prove it, but I was smart. I was best at math, although my favorite subject was history. I still am smart. If you would base me by my grades, I guess most people would say that I'm an average student, however, it comes at no surprise to me when I get the highest grade on a test or on a class, because I am smart. My only flaw is that I'm a lazy student. I'm hoping to change that when I make my transition to college, but I'll talk more on that later.

Being undocumented did not bother me at all until I hit 16, that's when I started seeing all my friends in their McDonald's uniforms driving around in their cheap, old cars. It may not have been much, but it was something, and I started craving that something. I have an older brother who was also undocumented. He graduated from high school two years ago(class of 2007). He took a whole year off to just work before going back to school, which in my opinion is the worst thing you can do. My brother is no longer illegal. Not because he became a citizen but because he went back to Mexico to continue his education. He left on July 4, 2008. God how much I miss him! He was like my best friend. We became extremely close in the few months prior to his departure back to Mexico. And now nothing is the same without him.

I've tried applying in the same place he worked, along with countless other places. No place will hire me because they're really starting to crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants so I'm stuck unemployed. I have no job, I have no car. I can't get a license or a state I.D., and I have to walk around carrying my I.D. issued by the Mexican government that I obtained at the Mexican consulate. A lot of times people think my I.D. is fake so there's no guarantee that they'll accept it, or sometimes places require a state issued I.D. When I go out, I take my mom's car, always afraid of getting pulled over. Up to this date, that hasn't happened, I'm a safe driver and I obey the rules of the road, but overall I'm driving illegally because I have no license or insurance.

After living here for over 10 years, I've come to love this country and I've come to call this place home. However, because I'm an illegal, I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I still love it here though, and I can honestly say that I would fight for this country and shed blood for this country. I am currently a Senior in high school. I am one month away from graduating and I know exactly what university I want to go to and what I want to study. The school of my choice is the University of North Texas(UNT). I've already applied there, I applied as an undergraduate. However, it wasn't until later that I realized that undocumented students have to apply as international students. When the university found that I was undocumented, they transferred my application to the International Office of Admission and they bumped my application fee up to $75 dollars when it was originally $40. Because I have no job, I haven't been able to come up with the money to pay the application fee, therefore, my application has been on hold for almost 3 months. Until I pay the application fee, they won't even look at my application, and until then, I won't know whether I would be accepted or not.

Because I'm just an average student, the list of potential scholarships for me is small, and because I'm undocumented, that list becomes even smaller. I still haven't been able to find a scholarship for me. I was never involved in any extra-curricular activities in school. There was no one there to tell me that these things can help you when in comes to finding a scholarship. My parents wouldn't know. They don't know how the school system works here in America, they hardly know how the school system works in Mexico seeing as how my mom never graduated and my dad never went to high school. Also, I can't get grants or any form federal financial aid. The way I see it, I'm going to have to take out a student loan from a bank, which is the one thing I didn't want to do. Even then I had trouble finding a bank that offered student loans to undocumented students. I finally found a bank, but I'm going to need a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen.

I hear my friends talk about what they're going to do with their lives. When they ask me, it's hard for me to say. If I was a citizen, I would be able to tell you every detail of what my life would be like, but since I'm not, it's a mystery to me of what my life would end up like. All I can say is that I'm very ambitious, and I want to get a higher education and get a minimum of two degrees. I found out about the DREAM Act a few months ago while attending a college fair that my girlfriend dragged me to. I got to say that's one of the best things she's done for me because I would not have gone had it not been for her dragging me there. And until that day, I didn't really see myself as college bound, so I guess I have her to thank. She doesn't have to go through all the things that I'm going through. She's a U.S. citizen, she's smart, she's in the top 5% of our class and she's been accepted to the school of her choice already so I'm proud of her and I wish her good luck. As for me, all I got to hope for is the DREAM Act.

Also, I find it ridiculous when there are people who are citizens that drop out of school or are fresh out of school and they dedicate their life to crime, violence, and drugs. They don't understand this wonderful opportunity that has been handed to them practically in a silver platter and they decided to throw it away when there are people like me who would do just about anything to have that same opportunity. So that they can go to school and get a job. All I want in life right now is for this law to pass, and if there's anything I can do to help in any way, please, let me know.

That was just a bit of me. I know I wrote a lot, I've tried proofreading it a few times but I'm pretty sure there are some mistakes on there that I have overseen. Also, there are other things I wanted to write, but I forgot what those things were. When, and if I remember anything else, I'll make sure to add it on to here. Thank you
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#2
04-13-2009, 02:48 PM
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Welcome to DAP.

Try to go to your guidance counselor in school. You don't have to tell her that you are undocumented, just that you cannot afford the application fee. You can also call the university and tell them the same thing. They will most likely drop the fee.

However, if they are considering you as an international student, in all likeliness the tuition will be much higher. Make sure that you apply to some city and state schools. Take a look at the following page http://dreamact.info/students/in-state/texas for some basic information. Don't forget that you can approach the university and tell them that you cannot afford the fee and they will most likely drop it.
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#3
04-13-2009, 03:11 PM
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From Texas
Joined in Apr 2009
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Lets hope the Dream Act does pass and we can go on with our lives.
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#4
04-13-2009, 08:26 PM
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Welcome man. Please refer to these websites for all your college related questions here in Texas. http://universityleadership.org/ and http://www.cheis.net/ but if you have more questions don't hesitate to PM.
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#5
04-13-2009, 10:15 PM
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I think we all feel the most depressed and alone when all of our peers are about to go to universities and study in other states and start doing normal teenage things that we, because of a 9 digit # are not allowed too. It's ridiculous to me that even though we all went to the same school as our peers, read the same books, and had the same teachers, we are set aside and not recognized by society. I guarantee you that all of us love this country more than most natural born U.S. citizens because we do see the opportunities that this country has to offer, while most Americans don't. Have faith and you're still young. DREAM will pass!!
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#6
04-13-2009, 11:03 PM
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America is the land of great opportunities that we all should appreciate
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#7
04-14-2009, 12:20 AM
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From Dallas Texas
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Hang in there DUDE!! Im from Dallas too, and I want to go to UNT aswell... Luckily, I will be attending next year! I just wanted to share this with you because I've been in a very similar situation!!! Like you, I didn't have anyone to tell me how xtracurr activities look great on your college app! But anyway, I don't know what high school you are attendingg, but in my high school, i was able to get a waiver for university applications b/c i received free lunch... i got 3, to the university of your choice! aint that awesome? you should talk to your high school counselor, and ask about it! are you in DISD?
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#8
04-14-2009, 12:28 AM
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From Dallas, Texas
Joined in Apr 2009
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chacumen
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jessijaz View Post
Hang in there DUDE!! Im from Dallas too, and I want to go to UNT aswell... Luckily, I will be attending next year! I just wanted to share this with you because I've been in a very similar situation!!! Like you, I didn't have anyone to tell me how xtracurr activities look great on your college app! But anyway, I don't know what high school you are attendingg, but in my high school, i was able to get a waiver for university applications b/c i received free lunch... i got 3, to the university of your choice! aint that awesome? you should talk to your high school counselor, and ask about it! are you in DISD?
I am in DISD. I go to Skyline High School. And I have free lunch too so my counselor gave me 2 waivers for the application fee, however, because I'm not a citizen, UNT considers me an international student and they told me that they don't accept application waiver fees from international students.

However, when I pay the application fee, I'm preety confident Ill get accepted. I did great on my SAT so I think that should help me.
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#9
04-14-2009, 12:34 AM
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Tell them you're HB1403/SB1528 ...they know whats up and will direct you accordingly. If the person you're speaking to can't help ask to talk to someone who can guide in the right direction. Don't take your first answer as a the only answer, ask around.
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Last edited by deftbeta; 04-14-2009 at 08:43 AM..
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#10
04-14-2009, 01:53 AM
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Hey!

I go to UNT, and trust me there are plenty of ways and scholarships you can get if you do your research properly... PM and I'll be happy to help you out in any way I can... I too went through your dilemma when I graduated in 2001 from high school and had to find a way through my own means. I'm about to finish my MBA in August, and I got my BS at UNT also... The sky is the limit, you just got to reach for it!
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