DACA life changing stories. - Page 2

Lol u guys are funny. Just happy to see a lot of successful stories.

Thats awesome news OP. I'm glad you found something you like and are making a living out of it.

As for me, my situation has been life changing as well.

Before DACA I was working at a restaurant making minimum wage + tips. Which wasn't so bad for a 20ish year old me. I loved that I had a disposable income and some semblance of independence.

I think when it all changed for me was when I finally graduated CC and felt as though I couldn't continue paying for college without papers and a well enough paying job. I didn't really know much about grants or scholarships and even then I wasn't very well versed in aplications for school.

I decided to go straight to work doing what I love. Photography. I became an assistant for a photographer in 2011 and instantly began to plan a career in photography.

I worked on music videos, photoshoots and began to make a name for myself as a well respected assistant.

It was easy to work as an assistant because most people in the industry pay cash or check. I was working consistently and meeting amazing people in Los Angeles.

Then DACA came. I applied and was approved. Thats really when things changed. I quit my job and applied for a graphic design position at a company in Los Angeles and was hired. I had no idea that they would hire me without any prior design experience. I've always had a passion for photography but didn't rule out design as a career.

It paid off. I started a new career. Which came with bumps and false starts along the way as well. The industry will literally eat you alive if you let it. I began to add prestigious brands to my resume and was able to jump from company to company.

Thats where I am now. I've managed to become art director for a global car brand at an advertising agency.

I'm living my best life (as cheesy as that sounds) and its all because of DACA.

Some days I think if I were a citizen and just a regular joe would I be where I am now? Would I have had the drive to be where I am now? I appreciate all my blessings and and thankful for the help i've received. But I do think growing up never knowing if you would be able to follow your career really puts all the other BS into perspective. I chased my dream even when I didn't have DACA and i'm so thankful for all my struggles because it has truly made me who I am today.

As for now. I'm still waiting on approval for my third DACA approval. I did my Biometrics on 7/1 and I know its only been two weeks but i'm getting anxious because my EAD exprired in september.

I hope i get approved soon.

You sent in the application kind of late.

Good luck!

Well, my story is somewhat similar. I worked horrible under the table jobs to pay for my 4-year degree. When I graduated DACA wasn't announced yet. I graduated 2010 and didn't know what I went to school for because I couldn't get a job that I wanted. It was kinda sad because I was making 14k a year, if that. I knew I was smart, but wasn't able to apply for any of the jobs out there. When DACA was announced it was a life changing moment for me. I applied using the little savings I had and after I saw that everyone was getting their EAD around Nov, I started applying for jobs and interviewing without an EAD...yet lol. I applied to 3 jobs and got all three. My first job was as a software developer paying $70k, later I realized that I could be making more money. I worked with really smart people, some engineers came from google and amazon. I took the 70k job because it was a lot for me at the time, and I was so excited to be making 6x more. Later I met a girl and I quit my job to move near her. I did find many jobs and now I'm making over 100k and living with the girl of my dream. Though she's been hinting me to propose now and then lol.

That is awesome! I am so proud of you! You are what make us stand out in the crowd.

What kind of software developing do you do? Backend? Front end? embedded firmware?