I did a TED talk — "Hiding In Plain Sight: My Life As An Undocumented American" - Page 9

Exactly this, no opinion is greater than anothers. She seems interested in me, oh gosh, I am just too shy in sharing my personal experiences. But by all means, please free, TC, to assume whatever you please about me.

I will suggest you from now to pay no attention to me so we can keep this party going.

It might not feel worse if you stay quiet, but it also won't get any better. I feel like the reform movement needs as many voices as possible, and yours could be the tipping point that changes everything.

Sorry about your parents putting you in a shitty position. I'm glad you started taking things into your own hands. It must be hard, but it sounds like it was a necessary step. So where are you now with your adjustment of status?

I don't mind having a difference of opinion. I think you just come off a little strong most of the time when you disagree with people here. But anyway, I don't want to go into that. After all, we are on a forum so I guess I should expect that from time to time.

You know, I think you are right. I should just agree with whatever people post and act all positive and encouragingly.

You go girl!! Great story!


thats just not me man

PS: When are you changing your signature?

I did change my sig. I'm not saying not to disagree. You know that's not what I mean. I mean, that often times a conversation can be more productive if we are chill. For example, telling someone that they are not enough undocumented is probably not the nicest thing. You know what I mean man. Again, that's just my opinion. I disagree with people all the time, but I don't resort to saying really mean stuff like that. Maybe it just sounded mean to me too.

There were parts of the article I liked and others I didn't like, but I'm not going to start attacking her because I didn't like something in her article. I'm not going to say hey... you this and that. lol. Maybe I'm just an old now.

I think you know what I mean. It's weird that I'm explaining this.



You should be our secret weapon for when we have trolls though. In those cases, you should unleash anything in your mind and unfiltered.

I mean, I do highly respect her, that fact that she came out of the shadows, talked in Ted, and had an article posted in Washington Post should top every point I have made. Her coming out the shadow like that is encouraging to others. But as others have said, I do like to speak whats on mind. If you don't like it, well, nothing I can do about it. Just like how I can't do anything to change whatever views you have.

Dude, see. You spoke your mind without sounding all mean. Right on.

The bold is where you're neither questioning or stating your point pianos. You are being condescending or being rhetorical. I can be condescending but I know when I'm being condescending. It's not about speaking your mind- speak your mind all you wish- but then don't deny being mean.

Do you understand now? I'm not trying to be mean, I'm trying to show you what you're doing wrong.

As I said, I am the most harmless, nicest users on this site. I wouldn't even hurt a fly.

I think it's finally moving along. The whole thing relies on other people. So there were days where I was feeling like I might explode because a deadline was coming up and I didn't have what was needed. Or the attorney would push for a certain piece of evidence which delayed everything by months but perhaps it was worth it in the end (to be determined).

Overall I definitely learned that I can't rely on anyone but myself. That should of been empowering yet it did not feel that way. It still is hard to hear friends/acquaintances complain about how terrible life is just because of some tiny insignificant thing they have to deal with. And yet there's people in our situation who can't drive, fly, get in state tuition or work (though luckily DACA fixed some of these things for those that qualified).
What she did could have backfired. It's a risk. What I'm about to say is unrelated to what she did. But I felt like sharing it anyway. I've met someone was smuggled into this country after his father was murdered. His mother & sisters didn't move. Supposedly he had to move so he could avoid his father's fate. What did he do here? Got a bit too bold. Perhaps enjoyed life a bit too much. Didn't let his status interfere in any way.

Now why did I write about him here? Well because up until recently I didn't really know many "illegals" due to my particular circumstance. So this person here was my only real connection to other people in my situation. He was about my age and in some ways he was doing better than me. And he could of been my only chance of maybe getting a fake ID and being able to visit family/friends after so long. He even got a social security card. His high school teacher procured it! How... I don't even. Probably was a fake. For a little while I was almost envious. That sort of lack of fear got him results. That all changed when he was arrested. So this guy had quite some opportunities and then he wasted it all. Luckily they didn't come for him until after I was gone. That happened at my friend's house who convinced his parent's to let him stay there. Come to think of it that could of been a terrible sleepover.

That was just one of the many things that made me feel like I should stay quiet and below the radar so to speak. Now I'm on the path to legal status and yet I'm still somewhat scared. My life experiences made me that way. Hopefully I can recover and do something truly useful. I hope we all move on and recover once this is over with.