My story

Hi, my name is stephen and I was brought here when I was about 10 and been living here ever since. I've been looking at this site for a while now and I must say that I am quite relieved to know that I am not alone and there are others just like me. I found out that I was undocumented when I was in highschool, trying to get my license just like all my other friends (so i couldn't get my diploma because drivers class was a prereq and I was scared to take it because I didn't want anyone to find out). So even with a very high gpa and taking ton of AP classes, I still couldn't get my diploma. The worst year of my life came when I was a senior, back then I still was very academically motivated (took about 6 AP's), even though I realized that I wouldn't be able to get higher education and i didn't want anyone to suspect anything unusual from my peers. Anyways, my life wasn't completely over because I was able to get into college despite the burden of paying ton of tuition which I can't afford so i have to divide it monthly. I work full-time to pay for my 23 credit hours worth of classes per semester, which is very hectic, but I still enjoy the challenge that life has to offer and I'm very optimistic about dream act. After all, it is my only hope of getting into med school or becoming a research scientist and fulfilling my dream.

Dude this is making you. Keep up the good work and the struggle

Welcome to DAP,Your avatar looks familiar ave you ever posted on COSA ?

No, I just made it today. Also, today is my first time posting, I've just been lurking this site, reading stuff, not really participating till now. What is COSA?

nice to meet u stephen

Ah ok,Cosa was another pro-dream act site before DAP.

Hi Stephen,
I am glad you found this site, I also felt like you and was very excited when I came upon this site. For many years I thought I was alone and did not identify with my peers because of my immigration status. Finding this site and learning more on the things I can do to help pass the Dream act has giving me a lot of hope. I must say even though I am scared, the best thing to do rather than just hope and dream is to spread the word regarding this bill. Since finding more and more info everyday I do my best to let people know about this bill. There are many people out there unaware that this is even going on. I was upset when I learned my sisters also did not know, but I was more upset at myself because there is more I could have been doing to help spread the word. I have since told them and want them to tell their friends and anybody that will listen; teachers, employers, community leaders. Our community as a whole is who will eventually persuade our Congressman to pass this bill. I am sure that as smart as you are, if your teachers and peers knew about your immigration situation they would love to help. Why wouldn't they? they are teaches they want us to succeed and they want to create bright futures. So please read the msgs to take action and help spread the word. Good luck

umm... that's the thing, I have a big fear about others knowing about my status... I don't even tell ppl who are REALLY close to me. I know it sounds ridiculous but i can't help it.

It's not ridiculous, it's one of the burdens of the situation.

Stephen, first of all, I can relate to your story. I came here when I was 8, and also too all those AP and honors classes graduating with high honors (and dreaded senior year because I knew I did too well to pass of a lie that I did not get into college). Well, now I know the fears of not getting into college had a very loose foundation, I got into about 10 out of 12-13 schools that I applied to, the 2 or 3 I did where the ones where my sabotaged SAT and ACT where clearly not high enough (and top ranking schools that generally only accept valevictorians and salutorians (sp?)).

I guess I just wanted to say that it is pleasant to know that I am not the only one out there, and that there is someone else that can relate to what I experienced, and not only that but that there are so many people out there. It got very lonely back when I thought I was the only one in that situation, back in high school.

I can also relate to being unable to tell even the closest friends. I have friends that entrust me with stuff that would probably not trust anyone else with, and here I am still keeping my status a secret, god knows why, I am in a city with a very high immigration population, I just can't get myself to go through with it, but I also cannot reason why it would be bad for them to know. It would certainly ease my already dwindling friendships that are failing because I am getting tired of uncomfortable situations around my lack of drivers license.

Well good luck with your med degree, 23 credit hours per semester and full time job, wow... I do not even think I can compete with that, can't even get the courage to ask for a job with my status. I end up working 70+ hours/week only during summers when I am closer to my parents and they find me the jobs.