I did a TED talk — "Hiding In Plain Sight: My Life As An Undocumented American" - Page 2

Yea, the video was great. I'm glad they got a non-latino(a) to do the video. I think people need to be aware that undocumented people are not just Latinos. I don't want to open up that can of warms again, but I thought I'd just mention it

It's all about communication on the parents part. I never found out about how my bad my situation was until I was 19. Even then my parents weren't the ones to tell me. I found out from the lawyer. Growing up in a town where practically everyone is a USC & my folks never uttered anything regarding immgration, I never bothered to ask any question and assumed I had some sort of status.

I just look at my avatar and think to myself, "how could anyone ever think I was undocumented." kidding kidding. So smilieface1, did you like the video or what?

I liked it. It was almost hard to watch/listen to, knowing you're in just about the same predicament. Hearing out loud somehow makes it feel ten times worse.
But you learn to move on and find ways through it.

Well, for me, ive always know about my status and all of the drawbacks it had. But quite honestly, understanding how serious it really is makes you just become more adjust to it. I knew I couldn't get my ID here, I knew if I wanted to go school it would be out of state tuition, I knew that if I did get a degree, it would be useless here but I always set goals and objectives. It not apply with it, but I think understanding your status is similar if you are born with out legs, youve never had legs to begin with, as far you are concern, legs don't really matter. How could they? You were born with out them so you cant miss the joys of having legs. So you grew up around it as someone who has legs. On contrast, if you learned late in life that you are illegally, I think of this as being born with legs and later losing them, you can spent you life crying how you miss your legs, you start to think of all the things you won;t be able to do... and you DO miss the joys of having legs. You have to find around this or you wont get far. Ive always saw my self as being born without legs, and so I learned to live with it. I cant even say it was harsh seeing your friends getting licenses because taking the bus was something ive always done. And honestly, I hate driving so it worked out for me. Paying out of state tuition? Yeah it was hard but then I remember how much harder it would be if I had to pay school back home. So I found ways around that. Not being able to work my degree later in life? I had a plan for that too - move back home or to another country and take my degree there. I suppose I always had backup plans for just about everything. I don't think hearing it at loud makes it worse - seeing it happening to those around you makes it worse. Seeing your parents not being to live the life you wish they could, friends who age out of DACA struggling, and it hurts because you can relate to that but you realized you are not there anymore and want to help them out.

For me, I had the legs. Just never had much interest in using them. I was (and still am) a shy simple person. Then I was ready to put it through some paces, I couldn't. At least not the way I wanted to. So that part didn't bother me too much. Just found some workarounds. It breaks my heart when I hear about whole families being undocumented. You will have and know someone going through the same hardship. When I said everyone I know is USC, that ment including my family. I was like the forgoton child in my family. Somehow my paperwork was screwed up. Although they say they understand, they do not truly know what that burden feels like becaused they've been statused for a long time. Even before DACA I had accomplished a lot of things that I wanted to do. The only thing I yern for now but can't have is traveling to another country for a vacation and knowing I'll be able to come back. I have no back up plan. Never have. Because if I am ever forced to leave, I know there are many things that I have accomplished here that will still aid me elsewhere.

Growing up I used to be excited about turning 12 because it meant I could legally get a state ID. My parents told me I couldn't and wouldn't clarify why. When I turned 15 I asked if I could get a permit, they said I couldn't yet again did not say why.

I turned 16 and had enough of their bullshit and started digging on my own. Slowly I came to realize they overstayed their visas due to my moms cancer, and in turn mine overstayed as well. I had a choice of going back to Venezuela and avoid the 10 year ban, but I've been here since I was 5 years old. Venezuela was also going thru a rough time, I wouldn't make it there, so I decided to stay. She was contracted to work her for a big company, but due to her illness, she was let go. And since it was a contract job, she had no legal ground to sue. She had to be interned at a hospital for years going thru chemo. My dad had to work overtime at a construction site to pay the bills and hospital bills because we couldn't get government assistance.

I used to blame my parents for me growing up without the chances other kids had, but realizing how close my mom was to dying and seeing the sacrifices they made to give me some kind of life here, I forgave them.

Though honestly, if it hadn't been for DACA, I may have just given up all hope.

Amazing video, very courageous! Thank you for sharing!

AMAZING! AND POWERFUL! Thanks for standing up there and being our voice! We need to stay positive our dreams will come true!

I don't think it's so much that you don't know you're overstaying your visa. I think it has more to do with the fact that you aren't concerned as much simply because you don't quite understand the legal technicalities behind the whole situation. At least i know i didn't then, but most definitely do now.