I guess it's time to talk

I can't tell you how happy I am to have this website. Over the past few weeks I've been at war with myself. The decision to leave this country was made a week ago because I figured I couldn't and would never be able to actualize my dreams. I'm not a straight A college student. I'm no longer in college, for fear of being caught, and unfortunately not having the money needed to pay for higher education. I came from Santiago, Chile at the age of 5 with my mother. However, I came here illegally. There was no visa. There was just a passport and crossing the border. I didn't cross with my mother. I crossed while fast asleep in the backseat of an American woman's car. A woman who wanted to help. Here I am 17 years later and I don't believe I've amounted to anything. I have dreams, god my aspirations to be successful are overwhelming. I've done everything I've been able to do without tipping off the radar. I'm currently 22 years old and I feel like I need to have something done with my life. It's time. I've wasted too much time not doing anything. I didn't try much in high school, yet I was placed in all advanced courses due to my standardized testing scores and my innate ability to manipulate subjects. I still didn't do as great as I would've liked. An average C student at best. I've honestly never thought I would amount to anything because I am an illegal. A few of my classmates believe that I'm strong and possibly insane for some of the things I've done in my life. Yet no one know I am here illegally,aside from my parents, and some immediate family, not even my 15 year old brother. I left my mother's house at 16. I've been caring for myself ever since. Working, school, projects, college. I did it all, by myself. Working 60 plus hours a week your senior year of high school and still juggling every single organization I could get myself involved in. I failed, naturally. Too much pressure caused me to mentally collapse. Funny thing is, I was smart, scratch that, I believe I am extremely bright. While I did fail some high school courses, it wasn't due to my low test scores, it was due to my absences, my habit of falling asleep in class because I worked until 2 in the morning the night before. These aren't excuses. There's thousands of kids who do this every day. For me, it was a bit more difficult. I managed to get myself enrolled in a private school, I successfully had my own apartment at 17, and I was working to survive. Most of my classmates knew I was alone, hiding it from administration was more difficult than I thought. I had drive. Something that I seem to be lacking these days. I'm no longer in school, something I regret completely, and I seem to be just passing by. I feel apathetic. Why should I even try if I may be caught tomorrow? I might be shipped off to a country that's foreign to me. I speak the language fluently, but that's not it. It's strange soil, unknown territory. Those have been my thoughts the past few days. After finding this and learning about the support behind the bill, I feel refreshed. I am full of vigor and drive and passion. I can be successful. I can try. Oh god, am I going to try. I am fluent in four languages, a feat most of my American classmates find incredible, to me it isn't, it's natural. I have passions. I have this burning desire to save people, our environment, the world. As a child I dreamed of becoming a doctor, due to monetary, illegal status, and drive issues, I gave up. I currently volunteer/work with an organization who deals with dead marine life in the gulf since the oil spill. I also just finished this incredible internship with an endangered species organization and I was inspired. This is what I want to do with my life. I want to save the planet, I want to educate people. I want to better myself. I can't do that until I'm okay, until I stop fearing that I will be deported to a country where I won't have those opportunities. On Monday I was going to make an appointment with the Chilean embassy to get a passport and an ID so I would be able to get back to Chile and risk the chance of never coming back. After finding this site and reading the support of others and knowing that I am not alone. I'm going to wait. I'm going to keep pursuing my dreams under whatever means necessary and at the same time I'm also going to fight to stay here and help in whatever way I can.

Thank you. I honestly cannot tell you how much of an emotional wreck I've been these past few days, weeks, months, years. It feels like I have hope. I'm not out of the running yet.

WOW. Welcome!
Where in the US are you located?

Welcome, you are definitely in the right place. I agree wholeheartedly, stay strong and fight.

Thank you. I've honestly been to hell and back. My legal status should be nothing, yet it's everything. I reside in Louisiana.

Welcome

http://durbin.senate.gov/public/inde...eamers-stories

Click on the link it will lead you to the page, I feel the more stories and struggles he can relay out to the Senate floor the better chance we stand , everyone do your part !!

Just kidding with you. I hope it made you laugh.

Wow , your story is very inspiring. I wanted to be a pediatrician, but due to my illegal situation I cant:/ so now I go to a law school and thank God they are helping me with half! What I can tell you is to go back to school because like my teacher said education is the key for success, she told me that it doesnt matter what you educate yourself with, just do something. So even though life may be hard and you may struggle, at the end you will see the results! Just like me. My teachers know my illegal situation, and now I almost graduate!
I wish you good luck in your life and have faith because Dream Act will pass God Bless!

Louisiana!!! Can I visit you for some Cajun goodness!! Plus mardi gra ..