Irrevocable Hope]

Hello my name is Ivonne and I am currently a junior in high school. I have lived in the United States since I was 5 years old. I remember when my family first brought me here. Ilegally. I remember riding in the car with my aunt and uncle, getting ready to cross the border. I pretended to be my cousin (a legal citizen) and I came into this country using her documents. I started school immediately, loving every single minute of it. I have always been an over achiever, getting honor roll and straight A's every academic year. I have become much more successful in high school. I currently rank number one in my junior class, and I am in Beta Club, Health Occupations Students of America, and Students Against Destructive Decisions. I have earned straight A's throughout my experience in high school. One MAJOR problem: I am undocumented. How can the valedictorian of a class NOT attend college? NOT get ANY scholarships? I TRY and TRY so hard not to lose hope... Maybe, just maybe 2010 will be the year our dreams come true. I still have hope... Hope that I can be a resident before I graduate in 2011.

Hey pal, do you have anyone in your immediate family that is a citizen or greencard holder? Try to have them sponsor you. That will take many years but at least you will be in the system.

Right now, we have to get congress to pass the dream act. President Obama will probably not get to reform until the 2nd term of his presidency. Its just too polarizing an issue. He will get to it. I know I was making plans to leave America if it didnt pass. Lets face it, Congress cant even get healthcare to pass to help america, what are the chances of helping immigrants?

Dont let this bring you down. You are young. I wasted 10 years just waiting. You do not make the same mistake. Make a plan. If this doesnt happen or that doesnt happen you will do this. I did it. I was waiting to see how Obama was going to tackle immigration or if the dream act pass before I went forward with my life.

Welcome to DAP vonno_collegebound! For now all I can say is keep up with the good grades. Don't let your immgration status, if it were, bring you down. Petenye pretty much covered everything else lol.

Welcome! ahh so nostalgic. I was a junior in HS too when I first got involved in immigration reform.

what state are you currently living in? some states offer free tuition for valedictorians/top ten percent students regardless of status.

Thanks you guys for taking time to read about me. and to answer any questions, yes, i have an uncle who lives in california who is a citizen and he is my sponsor. I have been in the system for at least 10 years but nothing has been done. =/. I currently live in Tennessee. I think they charge double for tuition if you are not a citizen.

Vonno in the mean time dont get discouraged. Get your education. Learn as much as you can. Just incase nothing happens you will have that to fall back on and the world is growing. Economies are emerging all over the globe. I wasted 10 years waiting, doing nothing. Dont do the same. Your not alone. We know how you feel. Look at nations like Dubai. If nothing worked out for me here, I was seriously thinking of heading to a emerging nation and see what happens. Your young. Obama will tackle immigration most likely 6 years from now if they dont get dream act passed sooner. So think of how old u will be then and what u will have wanted to accomplish education wise in the u.s

What a coincidence...I too am undocumented, am class of 2011, and am going to be valedictorian.

Hello I share a very similar story to yours.I know first-hand about the short-sightedness of TN colleges Have u considered out-of-state private colleges(not Vanderbilt)?Many will accept undocumented immigrants and provide financial aid,since they have different rules.