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Compilation of survey answers..
#1
04-09-2013, 05:34 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
1. What is your gender, age, and country of origin?
Male, 22, Mexico
Male, 25, unspecified former USSR country
Female, 22, Mexico
Male. 22. Mexico
Female, turning 29 from Mexico
Female, 26, Mexico
female/25/Brazil
m/24/korea
Male, 17, Mexico
Male, 24, Portugal
Female, 26, Mexico
22F, Philippines
Male, 22, Mexico
Female, 28, Dominican Republic
Female, 27, Trinidad
24, f, mexico
Male 17 yrs old Lithuania (Baltic State in Europe)
Female, 18 going on 19, Nigeria
Female, 29 (I'll be 30 next month), Mexico
2. What state do you currently reside in?
Texas
Texas
The Lone star state, Texas
Currently live in Nevada
California
Arizona
Florida
Ny
Illinois
MA
Illinois
Illinois
Texas
Florida
Florida
California
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Illinois
3. At what age did you arrive in the US?
6 years
7
5
8
I was 4yrs old
8
1 year old
10
8 years of age
2 and change
6 years old
8
9 yo
Month after turning 6
1 year 5 months old
3 yrs old
2 yrs old
Six days before my 9th birthday
2 years old
4. What is your marital status? Do you have children? Do you think your undocumented status has played a role on your current marital status? If so, how?
I am single, I do not have children, I think my undocumented status has played a role on my marital status, poor social skills and family problems have made me shy and detached
Single, no children. Frankly, a pretty big role. I'm 25 and I feel like I really missed out on my early 20s relationship-wise. Having no money and no car and living with my parents gave off the vibe that I was a lazy low-life post high school. Once I turned 21, I had no ID to go to bars and socialize with people. Having little spending money meant that I never went to activities that cost money and having no car meant that it was hard/frustrating to get anywhere via public transit.
Single, no children. It might have affected it a bit since after immature relationships I decided to keep to myself it's been like what 4 years? I'm currently dating someone and he knows about my status and yes I'm single since we're just dating.
Does that make sense? You're a psychology major please tell me does it?
I am single and without any children. I think my status has affected me because my school and house responsibilities eat away most of my income and I generally have no money to go on dates.
I'm married and I have 9yr old daughter. Yes due to financial difficulties and my mother having a hard time finding a job due to our status, I decided to move out at age 16. That was the worst mistake I have ever done, because I'm not happy with my spouse.
Single. No children. I do think my status has kept me single. Whenever I think of how I would go about explaining my status to my significant other it gives me anxiety. I feel that he won’t accept me or understand me. I am constantly afraid of being shamed for being who I am: An undocumented childhood arrival. I also am afraid that he will think I’m only with him for a green card. This anxiety only strengthens when I think of meeting his family and their questions about my past.
single with no children. I believe being undocumented has affected the choices I have made in relationships/partners. There have been times where I felt desperate and stayed in relationships where I felt like the other person was not good to me or that I did not have true feelings for. I felt like I would not be able to meet a decent partner because of my status and I had no choice but to settle. I felt like a decent partner would not want to date someone who had no money saved up, car, driver's license, lived at home, couldn’t travel or even leave the house and do normal things. Some of these things have been issues in some relationships. Guys tend to get bored fast if all you can do is sit at home. Even in my 20's, I was too paranoid to even go watch a Rated R movie in case I got ID'd so I avoided it. For the past few years I have isolated myself a lot from people and things which prevented me from meeting someone at all.
single. no children. yes. aint no girl gonna go out w/ an illegal immigrant
I'm single. No children. I do however think that not being able to drive a car or get a job has gotten in the way of me having a girlfriend, since at my age girls are expecting boyfriends that will drive them around and take them places
Not married, but in a relationship. It hasn't affected me much since I've generally been open about my status.
Married to USC, currently 8 months pregnant with my first baby. I don't believe my undocumented status has affected any relationships, I'm pretty open about my situation with anyone I meet, it just makes things a lot easier. My husband is very supportive and understanding.
Single and ready to mingle. I've been hesitant to commit to a relationship because I'm scared of revealing my status. I was always worried about how a potential partner would react to my status.
1. Single. Kids? Ain't no body got time for that. My engineering home planet needs me. 2. Yes, ain't got no money to take girls out on dates. I'm a poor college student. It'll get better one day, though....one day.
Single, no children, Definitely! I feel like being here illegally is a huge issue. It has kept me from driving and attending college which is 2 of the biggest things people my age do! How do you explain to someone you just met that you can't drive? How do you answer "What do you mean you don't have a degree? You're so smart! Why haven't you gone to school?" And even if you find the words and an ear willing to listen, there's the rejection factor. What if they hate illegals? What if they agree that you should be exiled and prosecuted? Definitely not a topic I like to discuss, but it’s part of my daily life. And it has affected big parts of my life, how do you avoid someone getting to know you and not having this subject come up fairly quickly? And if they accept you, what about their family? Oh Jesus! Just too much!
Married 3 years, no children. No, hasn’t played a role
I am currently single. I have never had a boyfriend and my status has had a HUGE role in that. I didn't want to have to explain myself to a guy as to why I didn't drive, or work, or had a passport as ID. I never knew when would be the right time. I didn't want to be like HEY I'M ### AND I'M UNDOCUMENTED! but also it's like, how much time do you wait before it seems like you've been lying? Idk, it's tricky. But even if I were documented I doubt I'd be married or with kids, I'm not sure if I want those things
N/A
I'm not married. I do not have children. My undocumented states has definitely played a role when it comes to dating because it requires me to trust someone and I didn't know if being undocumented should be something that should be made known early? Or how long should you wait to tell them? And if I wait too long to tell them, is that lying? And what is too long a wait? And then if you tell them, would they see me as someone who is just using them to improve my immigration status? I am in a relationship now, and it really is a work in progress. I told him everything from the get-go because I really was tired of hiding, hoping it would drive him away. Besides, I did not want to be on pins and needles throughout the entire relationship. And he stayed, which is a good thing.
I am single. I don't have children. Never had a "serious" relationship. I think my being undocumented definitely played a role. I've always felt like "less" of a person. My self esteem has rarely been high and when it is, it never stays high for a long period of time.
Male, 22, Mexico
Male, 25, unspecified former USSR country
Female, 22, Mexico
Male. 22. Mexico
Female, turning 29 from Mexico
Female, 26, Mexico
female/25/Brazil
m/24/korea
Male, 17, Mexico
Male, 24, Portugal
Female, 26, Mexico
22F, Philippines
Male, 22, Mexico
Female, 28, Dominican Republic
Female, 27, Trinidad
24, f, mexico
Male 17 yrs old Lithuania (Baltic State in Europe)
Female, 18 going on 19, Nigeria
Female, 29 (I'll be 30 next month), Mexico
2. What state do you currently reside in?
Texas
Texas
The Lone star state, Texas
Currently live in Nevada
California
Arizona
Florida
Ny
Illinois
MA
Illinois
Illinois
Texas
Florida
Florida
California
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Illinois
3. At what age did you arrive in the US?
6 years
7
5
8
I was 4yrs old
8
1 year old
10
8 years of age
2 and change
6 years old
8
9 yo
Month after turning 6
1 year 5 months old
3 yrs old
2 yrs old
Six days before my 9th birthday
2 years old
4. What is your marital status? Do you have children? Do you think your undocumented status has played a role on your current marital status? If so, how?
I am single, I do not have children, I think my undocumented status has played a role on my marital status, poor social skills and family problems have made me shy and detached
Single, no children. Frankly, a pretty big role. I'm 25 and I feel like I really missed out on my early 20s relationship-wise. Having no money and no car and living with my parents gave off the vibe that I was a lazy low-life post high school. Once I turned 21, I had no ID to go to bars and socialize with people. Having little spending money meant that I never went to activities that cost money and having no car meant that it was hard/frustrating to get anywhere via public transit.
Single, no children. It might have affected it a bit since after immature relationships I decided to keep to myself it's been like what 4 years? I'm currently dating someone and he knows about my status and yes I'm single since we're just dating.
Does that make sense? You're a psychology major please tell me does it?
I am single and without any children. I think my status has affected me because my school and house responsibilities eat away most of my income and I generally have no money to go on dates.
I'm married and I have 9yr old daughter. Yes due to financial difficulties and my mother having a hard time finding a job due to our status, I decided to move out at age 16. That was the worst mistake I have ever done, because I'm not happy with my spouse.
Single. No children. I do think my status has kept me single. Whenever I think of how I would go about explaining my status to my significant other it gives me anxiety. I feel that he won’t accept me or understand me. I am constantly afraid of being shamed for being who I am: An undocumented childhood arrival. I also am afraid that he will think I’m only with him for a green card. This anxiety only strengthens when I think of meeting his family and their questions about my past.
single with no children. I believe being undocumented has affected the choices I have made in relationships/partners. There have been times where I felt desperate and stayed in relationships where I felt like the other person was not good to me or that I did not have true feelings for. I felt like I would not be able to meet a decent partner because of my status and I had no choice but to settle. I felt like a decent partner would not want to date someone who had no money saved up, car, driver's license, lived at home, couldn’t travel or even leave the house and do normal things. Some of these things have been issues in some relationships. Guys tend to get bored fast if all you can do is sit at home. Even in my 20's, I was too paranoid to even go watch a Rated R movie in case I got ID'd so I avoided it. For the past few years I have isolated myself a lot from people and things which prevented me from meeting someone at all.
single. no children. yes. aint no girl gonna go out w/ an illegal immigrant
I'm single. No children. I do however think that not being able to drive a car or get a job has gotten in the way of me having a girlfriend, since at my age girls are expecting boyfriends that will drive them around and take them places
Not married, but in a relationship. It hasn't affected me much since I've generally been open about my status.
Married to USC, currently 8 months pregnant with my first baby. I don't believe my undocumented status has affected any relationships, I'm pretty open about my situation with anyone I meet, it just makes things a lot easier. My husband is very supportive and understanding.
Single and ready to mingle. I've been hesitant to commit to a relationship because I'm scared of revealing my status. I was always worried about how a potential partner would react to my status.
1. Single. Kids? Ain't no body got time for that. My engineering home planet needs me. 2. Yes, ain't got no money to take girls out on dates. I'm a poor college student. It'll get better one day, though....one day.
Single, no children, Definitely! I feel like being here illegally is a huge issue. It has kept me from driving and attending college which is 2 of the biggest things people my age do! How do you explain to someone you just met that you can't drive? How do you answer "What do you mean you don't have a degree? You're so smart! Why haven't you gone to school?" And even if you find the words and an ear willing to listen, there's the rejection factor. What if they hate illegals? What if they agree that you should be exiled and prosecuted? Definitely not a topic I like to discuss, but it’s part of my daily life. And it has affected big parts of my life, how do you avoid someone getting to know you and not having this subject come up fairly quickly? And if they accept you, what about their family? Oh Jesus! Just too much!
Married 3 years, no children. No, hasn’t played a role
I am currently single. I have never had a boyfriend and my status has had a HUGE role in that. I didn't want to have to explain myself to a guy as to why I didn't drive, or work, or had a passport as ID. I never knew when would be the right time. I didn't want to be like HEY I'M ### AND I'M UNDOCUMENTED! but also it's like, how much time do you wait before it seems like you've been lying? Idk, it's tricky. But even if I were documented I doubt I'd be married or with kids, I'm not sure if I want those things
N/A
I'm not married. I do not have children. My undocumented states has definitely played a role when it comes to dating because it requires me to trust someone and I didn't know if being undocumented should be something that should be made known early? Or how long should you wait to tell them? And if I wait too long to tell them, is that lying? And what is too long a wait? And then if you tell them, would they see me as someone who is just using them to improve my immigration status? I am in a relationship now, and it really is a work in progress. I told him everything from the get-go because I really was tired of hiding, hoping it would drive him away. Besides, I did not want to be on pins and needles throughout the entire relationship. And he stayed, which is a good thing.
I am single. I don't have children. Never had a "serious" relationship. I think my being undocumented definitely played a role. I've always felt like "less" of a person. My self esteem has rarely been high and when it is, it never stays high for a long period of time.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#2
04-09-2013, 05:35 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
5. What grade are you in or what is your education status (ex: are you currently enrolled in high school, college, or did you drop out and if so, what grade/age)? What kind of limitations or obstacles have you faced during these times?
I am in college, the limitations I have faced have been financial as well as psychological I have doubted my self in my capacity to continue my education in the past wondering if there was a point to continue.
I went to a community college at 20 to start studying engineering. After CC, I went to a 4-year university to get a degree in mechanical engineering. I graduated summa cum laude with a BSME. Limitations..? Mostly financial. Unfortunately I didn't qualify for most forms of financial aid so I only got roughly $1500 in scholarship money during my entire academic career. Luckily my mom & my sister were able to change their status to US Citizen and since they're both well educated and skilled people, they were able to pay for my education.
I'm a college student well at least I'm trying to go back to college to finish my basics so I can transfer to a 4 year university.
Social events since I don't have my own transportation and also limited income. I have not attended school in like about a year and I'm going to say it's because I was extremely disappointed and was ready to give up. Thankfully DACA happened.
I am currently enrolled in community college with 30 credits under my belt. I consider myself lucky to have graduated from a Nevada high school because I get to pay in state tuition and I was able to obtain a scholarship for 10,000 dollars from the state. In other words, my education is subsidized more than the majority of dreamers. Even though I get some help, I still can only take 2 or 3 classes per semester because I have to work.
I dropped out at 16 and went to adult school and earned my GED. It wasn't easy because my husband would hold me back.
I finished High School and attended 1 semester of college when I was 18. Looking back now I wish I had stuck with school even though I wouldn’t have been able to use my degree. When I was a teenager the whole realization that I was not going to be able to do many of the things I wanted to do really angered me. I dreamt of going to a University, having the college dorm experience, etc. In my senior year in high school I felt a mild case of depression when it came to the subject but the anger was considerably more. I saw my friends making their University plans which made me feel a little envious but very embarrassed at my situation (which no one knew of) and I was baffled by the ones that had a free ride for a college education and they didn’t make use of it. Ultimately, while I went to a community college to see what the classes were like I felt very disappointed in the experience and felt like I was wasting my time and money since I wouldn’t be able to use my degree, so I ended up dropping most of my classes and didn’t go back. That’s what I regret.
I have graduated high school and am currently not in school. I felt that my status did not affect me too much in high school. I was not able to get a driver’s license or job, but it wasn’t such a big deal back then. A big reason why I did not attend college was because in FL we did not have in state tuition and my family could not afford what I would have had to pay.
college.
Enrolled in high school, my senior year. Not as many as most of you guys, but not being able to drive around and not being able to talk about college in a confident tone.
Graduate level. No access to scholarships or financial aid makes it tough to get through school.
I attended a few semesters at the community college, I stopped attending because I needed money for tuition and then other things became more important to spend my money on, I am going back to school as soon as I an able to.
I've completed 2 years of university. Had I not been forced to take time off from school because of financial issues, I would be graduating this year. I'm in the process of returning as a part-time student; because financial aid is not an option, I am working at the same time to pay for my education.
I withdrew from my local secondary institution. I found the existing curriculum too demanding. My instructors vilified me due to my "attitude". Nah, who am I kidding? I'm a college student.
Graduated in 2002, was unable to attend college (couldn't afford paying out of state) I was offered scholarships I couldn't claim, I had to settle for whatever job was offered, while praying they wouldn't ask for much. I was lucky enough that my SS was not marked since I got it when I was so young. Had to deal with a low-income job and a terrible boss for 8 years since I had nowhere else to go. Unable to drive, how frustrating is it that you have to depend on someone else to get you places? Or the oh-so-reliable miami-dade transit. The biggest thing has definitely been school though. Just thinking of the wasted years makes my eyes water and brings sadness to my heart.
Currently not in school. Finished 2 years of college. I got 2 scholarships that I didn’t have to fill out a FAFSA for that helped a lot with paying for it. I haven’t been able to pay for it after the 2 years. Financial aid not an option.
I'm a recent college graduate. Honestly, I don't think I faced many obstacles. In high school I thought I wouldn't be able to attend a university [only CC], but I opened up to a friend about it. She talked to a counselor for me then we had a meeting and it turned out that in CA I could go to state schools and I also qualified for in state tuition. Thankfully, my university allowed payment plans that is how my parents were able to afford it. I thought I wanted to go to a private school but honestly it would've been too much stress and hassle. I'm glad I got an education regardless of where it was.
I'm in my junior year of high school (11th grade). For the past 2-3 years I fully understood that I couldn't work or drive in the US legally. It was the most depressing thing ever, being raised in a country that doesn't legally recognize or accept you. I spent my whole learning/developing life in the United States from being an infant alongside other American children. And on paper it says I'm not an American because I wasn't born here... and that's just how it is. But I applied for DACA and got a employment card, and then I separately applied for a Social Security card (which I have also gotten), and the next step on my road is to get a drivers license, not necessarily to drive (I'm not too crazy about it) but rather to have the most common and accepted inner-country ID for nearly everything (jobs, applications, etc) with no questions asked (especially since I'm the "average" American type: white, male, no accent, perfect English, American culture-ized, etc (not trying to be differential, but that's basically as average as it possibly gets)). And then even still, thinking about my future is really shady. My parents are immigrants with no legal right to work, so they are self-employed in crappy laboring jobs.. that doesn't exactly yield a bunch of disposable income. Paying for college is especially questionable, I can't apply for federal aid, loans, scholarships, etc.. and even in my state, they don't allow the instate tuition costs for illegals.
My parents paid taxes and I was educated for 11 years in a SINGLE school district that sponsored a nearby community college I am looking forward to attend, but I would be forced to pay literally THREE times more than others for the out-of-state tuition cost.
I am currently in my second year of college, I attend a community college. I was fortunate to get a scholarship that covered a portion of my tuition. Technically the scholarship covered most of my tuition now that I am in-county. For the first 3 years, I was an out of state student and I paid close to 10 grand. My scholarship covered 2,500, family lent me 2 grand and the remaining 5 grand-something came from jobs and payment plans and many late fees.During these times I did face my own obstacles. For one, I was among the first in my family to go to college. Well, my older brother and I started around the same time. And my family was in Nigeria, all of them. I only had an aunt here and we fell out. I was homeless for some hours before my godmother (the most amazing person I have ever met and we are so alike it is crazy) took me in and housed me and fed me. The woman is a saint to the letter. I still wonder how I was able to afford it. I took on jobs after jobs: babysitting, cleaning houses, tutoring, doing assignments for others, grading papers, writing papers—I was a beggar and I could not afford to choose. Then I began working as a hair braider and that has been a major help. I honestly could not have afforded this semester’s tuition (surprisingly it’s the $400 that has been hard to come up with lol) without that job. Aside from affording college, there was the emotional and mental toll that being undocumented takes on a person. There are periods when I am just down and all I want to do is curl up in my bed in fetal position, close the blinds and pull a heavy blanket over me. But I cannot afford to because I have to be in class or at work and I usually just have this empty stare on my face. Those times, it takes a lot to get back up and it is during those times that the negative thoughts flourish and I usually end up crying. The emotional block is just…so immense and it seems like it goes on forever…it’s very unpleasant.
I graduated high school in 2001 and attended 1yr of community college after that. Because of my status I paid out of pocket for my classes. Well actually my mom let me use her credit card. I was able to finish out the year but I pretty much left my mom completely broke. The biggest obstacles faced during this time was, of course, paying for college but also I started to realize pretty quickly that I needed an SS# for many of the classes that interested me, such as nursing. I don't know if this is how every undocumented person felt at the time or maybe it was just me. But letting anyone (counselors, teachers, etc) know that I was undocumented was completely out of the question. After that year I quickly realized that even if I did get my associates degree or any other degree for that matter would be completely worthless seeing as how I would never be able to use them. So I dropped out. Throughout the years I've taken classes here and there mostly to accompany others on their college journey. I took a science class with a friend who was studying for massage therapy and I took a business class with my sister who wanted to see if business classes were for her.
After I got accepted for DACA i thought, what's stopping me now from going back to school?! And just like that I signed up for some classes and here I am now.. back in college
I am in college, the limitations I have faced have been financial as well as psychological I have doubted my self in my capacity to continue my education in the past wondering if there was a point to continue.
I went to a community college at 20 to start studying engineering. After CC, I went to a 4-year university to get a degree in mechanical engineering. I graduated summa cum laude with a BSME. Limitations..? Mostly financial. Unfortunately I didn't qualify for most forms of financial aid so I only got roughly $1500 in scholarship money during my entire academic career. Luckily my mom & my sister were able to change their status to US Citizen and since they're both well educated and skilled people, they were able to pay for my education.
I'm a college student well at least I'm trying to go back to college to finish my basics so I can transfer to a 4 year university.
Social events since I don't have my own transportation and also limited income. I have not attended school in like about a year and I'm going to say it's because I was extremely disappointed and was ready to give up. Thankfully DACA happened.
I am currently enrolled in community college with 30 credits under my belt. I consider myself lucky to have graduated from a Nevada high school because I get to pay in state tuition and I was able to obtain a scholarship for 10,000 dollars from the state. In other words, my education is subsidized more than the majority of dreamers. Even though I get some help, I still can only take 2 or 3 classes per semester because I have to work.
I dropped out at 16 and went to adult school and earned my GED. It wasn't easy because my husband would hold me back.
I finished High School and attended 1 semester of college when I was 18. Looking back now I wish I had stuck with school even though I wouldn’t have been able to use my degree. When I was a teenager the whole realization that I was not going to be able to do many of the things I wanted to do really angered me. I dreamt of going to a University, having the college dorm experience, etc. In my senior year in high school I felt a mild case of depression when it came to the subject but the anger was considerably more. I saw my friends making their University plans which made me feel a little envious but very embarrassed at my situation (which no one knew of) and I was baffled by the ones that had a free ride for a college education and they didn’t make use of it. Ultimately, while I went to a community college to see what the classes were like I felt very disappointed in the experience and felt like I was wasting my time and money since I wouldn’t be able to use my degree, so I ended up dropping most of my classes and didn’t go back. That’s what I regret.
I have graduated high school and am currently not in school. I felt that my status did not affect me too much in high school. I was not able to get a driver’s license or job, but it wasn’t such a big deal back then. A big reason why I did not attend college was because in FL we did not have in state tuition and my family could not afford what I would have had to pay.
college.
Enrolled in high school, my senior year. Not as many as most of you guys, but not being able to drive around and not being able to talk about college in a confident tone.
Graduate level. No access to scholarships or financial aid makes it tough to get through school.
I attended a few semesters at the community college, I stopped attending because I needed money for tuition and then other things became more important to spend my money on, I am going back to school as soon as I an able to.
I've completed 2 years of university. Had I not been forced to take time off from school because of financial issues, I would be graduating this year. I'm in the process of returning as a part-time student; because financial aid is not an option, I am working at the same time to pay for my education.
I withdrew from my local secondary institution. I found the existing curriculum too demanding. My instructors vilified me due to my "attitude". Nah, who am I kidding? I'm a college student.
Graduated in 2002, was unable to attend college (couldn't afford paying out of state) I was offered scholarships I couldn't claim, I had to settle for whatever job was offered, while praying they wouldn't ask for much. I was lucky enough that my SS was not marked since I got it when I was so young. Had to deal with a low-income job and a terrible boss for 8 years since I had nowhere else to go. Unable to drive, how frustrating is it that you have to depend on someone else to get you places? Or the oh-so-reliable miami-dade transit. The biggest thing has definitely been school though. Just thinking of the wasted years makes my eyes water and brings sadness to my heart.
Currently not in school. Finished 2 years of college. I got 2 scholarships that I didn’t have to fill out a FAFSA for that helped a lot with paying for it. I haven’t been able to pay for it after the 2 years. Financial aid not an option.
I'm a recent college graduate. Honestly, I don't think I faced many obstacles. In high school I thought I wouldn't be able to attend a university [only CC], but I opened up to a friend about it. She talked to a counselor for me then we had a meeting and it turned out that in CA I could go to state schools and I also qualified for in state tuition. Thankfully, my university allowed payment plans that is how my parents were able to afford it. I thought I wanted to go to a private school but honestly it would've been too much stress and hassle. I'm glad I got an education regardless of where it was.
I'm in my junior year of high school (11th grade). For the past 2-3 years I fully understood that I couldn't work or drive in the US legally. It was the most depressing thing ever, being raised in a country that doesn't legally recognize or accept you. I spent my whole learning/developing life in the United States from being an infant alongside other American children. And on paper it says I'm not an American because I wasn't born here... and that's just how it is. But I applied for DACA and got a employment card, and then I separately applied for a Social Security card (which I have also gotten), and the next step on my road is to get a drivers license, not necessarily to drive (I'm not too crazy about it) but rather to have the most common and accepted inner-country ID for nearly everything (jobs, applications, etc) with no questions asked (especially since I'm the "average" American type: white, male, no accent, perfect English, American culture-ized, etc (not trying to be differential, but that's basically as average as it possibly gets)). And then even still, thinking about my future is really shady. My parents are immigrants with no legal right to work, so they are self-employed in crappy laboring jobs.. that doesn't exactly yield a bunch of disposable income. Paying for college is especially questionable, I can't apply for federal aid, loans, scholarships, etc.. and even in my state, they don't allow the instate tuition costs for illegals.
My parents paid taxes and I was educated for 11 years in a SINGLE school district that sponsored a nearby community college I am looking forward to attend, but I would be forced to pay literally THREE times more than others for the out-of-state tuition cost.
I am currently in my second year of college, I attend a community college. I was fortunate to get a scholarship that covered a portion of my tuition. Technically the scholarship covered most of my tuition now that I am in-county. For the first 3 years, I was an out of state student and I paid close to 10 grand. My scholarship covered 2,500, family lent me 2 grand and the remaining 5 grand-something came from jobs and payment plans and many late fees.During these times I did face my own obstacles. For one, I was among the first in my family to go to college. Well, my older brother and I started around the same time. And my family was in Nigeria, all of them. I only had an aunt here and we fell out. I was homeless for some hours before my godmother (the most amazing person I have ever met and we are so alike it is crazy) took me in and housed me and fed me. The woman is a saint to the letter. I still wonder how I was able to afford it. I took on jobs after jobs: babysitting, cleaning houses, tutoring, doing assignments for others, grading papers, writing papers—I was a beggar and I could not afford to choose. Then I began working as a hair braider and that has been a major help. I honestly could not have afforded this semester’s tuition (surprisingly it’s the $400 that has been hard to come up with lol) without that job. Aside from affording college, there was the emotional and mental toll that being undocumented takes on a person. There are periods when I am just down and all I want to do is curl up in my bed in fetal position, close the blinds and pull a heavy blanket over me. But I cannot afford to because I have to be in class or at work and I usually just have this empty stare on my face. Those times, it takes a lot to get back up and it is during those times that the negative thoughts flourish and I usually end up crying. The emotional block is just…so immense and it seems like it goes on forever…it’s very unpleasant.
I graduated high school in 2001 and attended 1yr of community college after that. Because of my status I paid out of pocket for my classes. Well actually my mom let me use her credit card. I was able to finish out the year but I pretty much left my mom completely broke. The biggest obstacles faced during this time was, of course, paying for college but also I started to realize pretty quickly that I needed an SS# for many of the classes that interested me, such as nursing. I don't know if this is how every undocumented person felt at the time or maybe it was just me. But letting anyone (counselors, teachers, etc) know that I was undocumented was completely out of the question. After that year I quickly realized that even if I did get my associates degree or any other degree for that matter would be completely worthless seeing as how I would never be able to use them. So I dropped out. Throughout the years I've taken classes here and there mostly to accompany others on their college journey. I took a science class with a friend who was studying for massage therapy and I took a business class with my sister who wanted to see if business classes were for her.
After I got accepted for DACA i thought, what's stopping me now from going back to school?! And just like that I signed up for some classes and here I am now.. back in college
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#3
04-09-2013, 05:36 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
6. Do you currently have a degree? If so, what kind? Are you currently working in a field related to your degree? (Before DACA and after DACA). Are there limitations or obstacles associated with working in the area of your degree?
No degree. I am not working in a related field
I graduated with a BSME this past december. Thankfully DACA passed right when it did! I was going to job interviews while my application was being processed. I got my EAD card the day of the final interview -- just in time! When it was time to sign all of my contracts/etc I already had a SSN card and a state ID hot off the press. Unfortunately a lot of the really interesting engineering jobs require a security clearance -- something that I can't get unless I become a US citizen. Unfortunately by that time (what.. 10 years is what we're looking at with the new immigration law?) it may be too late for me to get on a career track in those industries. Also since I don't have a car and and public transit here is atrocious, I had to look for engineering jobs that are close to home. I actually ended up taking a below-average paying job for someone with my degree because hey.. it's a job and I can actually get to it.
No degree yet.
I do not have a degree yet. I am hoping to get a tech certificate in computer networking then maybe in the future I will pursue a computer science degree.
No.
Nope
N/A
accounting firm. cant work anywhere that's discriminatory against EAD
No.
Yes: BS in Operations Management. I'm not putting the main focus of my degree to use in my regular job (though I do rely heavily on concepts learned in the ops program); however, I do draw heavily on the knowledge I obtained from my degree in the business I run. The only limitation I have come across is the threat of overseas travel.
No degree as of yet. I was going for a degree for electric and computer technology technician. I felt as though even if I managed to finish school that I could never get hired as an I.T. anywhere since I am undocumented. It played a big part too as to why I stopped going to school, I thought I was kinda wasting my money,
I'm not "ready" to be in the field yet, but soon. I'm working on my Mech Eng Tech Degree, and a CAD certificate. The only limitation is that I can't work any company having to do with the gov't. Everything else is a free-for-all. I'm lucky enough to have DACA though. Thanks, Obama.
No degree, currently hold a great job (executive assistant/manager) but it has nothing to do with my future plans (pre-med). I got lucky 2.5 years ago when I was about to be "found out" at my terrible, horrible old job. I was blessed with an open door which brought me to where I am now. It was complete divine intervention, no one but God can take credit for it. They know my situation and don't care, better pay, highest position in the company (after my bosses of course) and overall peace. You would think I could rest and just be happy, and though I am happy, I feel completely unfulfilled. When you have a dream and have your life placed on hold by something that is not your fault, well, there's just no getting through life that way.
AA in nursing but haven’t been able to finish (need an AS in nursing to get my RN). I have a nursing license (LPN) that I was able to get since my high school offered a nursing program (free). I do work in my current field but not where I would like to be. I hoped I would be a RN/BSN by now but eventually it’ll happen.
I just graduated with a BA in Arts and Sciences aka... elementary school teacher, I know, I know. But it's my passion and what I want to do. Getting the degree wasn't a problem but applying for a credential program was. Last yr I knew I was going to graduate and not be able to get a credential because in order to get it you need to pass a background check and also take tests that only accept gov. IDs [I asked about a passport/matricula & they said they were not acceptable]. With DACA I can now apply. It's too late for Fall 2013 so I plan to work in whatever I can & save money between now and Fall 2014.
N/A I did have some rough plans for possible careers, but some of them have to be crossed off because of background checks and citizen/permanent residency requirements. Being restricted by the law just makes you feel.. so.. suppressed from your potential.
I do not currently have a degree. I am working towards an Associate degree of Arts. I have 3 more courses to take and that is going to take me 2 more semesters because I had to drop physics and take less than 12 credits and that made me a part-time student. The money I saved from that allowed me to apply for DACA so it was not a complete loss. But I am ready to transfer and get my Bachelor degree.
I don't have a degree. I did, however, take a CNA course in 2000-2001 during high school. I was never able to work as a CNA, though, because I wasn't able to get state certified without a valid SS#.
6. How was your high school experience (ex: did you have a lot of friends or did you keep to yourself, how were your grades, did you have a good support system)?
I kept to myself for the most part, I had a few friends but I was always distant for the most part, my grades were good in the beginning but declined from my own depression and not putting in my best effort as my motivation declined
High school was okay. I had friends and did things with people. Grades were okay. Frankly I miss those days -- I feel mentally like I'm stuck at being 17 since that's really the last time I was on equal footing with my peers. See Q14.
High school was probably not my favorite experience. I had great teachers and learned lots of things because I went to a pretty good school but because I come from a low income family, I'm undocumented, and lived like 30 mins away from my school I didn't do much when it came to extracurricular activities, and going out with friends. I did have friends they mostly lived in my area. My grades were good they could've been a lot better but I really didn't want to draw attention to myself. That and the fact that senior year if I took IB classes I would've had to pay for the exams and I just didn't have the money for that. At school I did have a very awkward experience my senior year. One of the counselors calls me over to ask why I had not applied to any schools I had good grades so she didn't get why. I told her I was planning to attend Community College, she then said I still had to apply for FAFSA I quietly told her I couldn't because I didn't qualify. She said something like you won't know until you try...then I told her I didn't have an SSN she said automatically understood and asked another lady to help me since the other one knew more about it. The other lady pretty much screamed "You don't have a social security number?" in the library. I was terrified...there were other people there. So I left even though the 1st woman told her to be quiet...I told them I was going to figure it out myself.
My high school experience was good overall. I did good in school, and even though I was shy and quiet, I got a long with a diverse group of people. To my surprise I got a lot of applause in my graduation ceremony.
I had alot of friends, but not the kind that your parents would approve of.
I loved my High School years. I had many friends and would use school as my escapism from my personal problems. My home life was not a stable one. I had lots of fun and laughs with my friends. Most of my friends were white so nobody knew about my situation. I loved my teachers and most of them encouraged me to continue my education. My grades were good; I graduated with a 3.6 GPA. I don’t feel I had a good support system at home, but I did in school.
My h.s. experience was fairly normal. I had a normal amount/a lot of friends. It was a little discouraging not being able to get a driver's license when all of my friends did. It wasn't so bad at that age though because not everyone had their own car (although most did). I believe I would just use the "I don't have a car" excuse instead of telling anyone that I didn't have a DL. My status didn't really hit me hard until after high school
knowing you are diff, you become outcast and become depressed, leading to losing friends
I have good grades, good friends, but my only support system is my family, since they're the only people in this country who know about my status.
Good core group of friends. I was personable -- participated in extracurricular activities, graduated 13/660 seniors. Very good support system.
I had a lot of friends, from different groups. My grades were good ( more of a B student), nothing exceptional. I had a great support system of friends when I discovered my undocumented status freshmen year in High School. I knew I wouldn't be able to do the same things as most of my friends but I lived bi curiously through them. My grades towards the end of high school went down quite a bit since I knew I probably wouldn't get too far once I graduated.
I was in a rigorous college-preparatory program; it helped distract me from the very real possibility that I wouldn't be able to achieve my dreams. However, in my sophomore year of high school, I became severely depressed in part due to the isolation I felt from being undocumented and fears that I would be consigned to working in low-paying, low-skill jobs instead of what I wanted to be. None of my friends were undocumented. In fact, some of them even expressed anti-immigrant beliefs. And I started losing trust in a lot of them because they were blaming me for my depression. They didn't realize that my fears of not being able to go to college were very real. I no longer keep in contact with HS friends because of this; they just weren't good friends after all and I doubt they would be understanding of my situation.
Oh, I was an outcast. Holy, sh**. My group of friends consisted of like 5 dudes. That carried onto my adulthood, and do tend to keep to myself. I rocked in my English classes. A++ all day, everyday. Everything else was average.
I had your usual HS experience, I had very good grades, good friends, most of which knew my situation and my family and friends have always been an excellent driving force in my life.
It was average I suppose. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was really active in extracurricular activities (which is how I got one of my scholarships). I had great friends and there were very few that knew my status.
I had an awesome HS experience. I graduated 6 yrs ago and still have a lot of the same friends. I love them to death and yes they were an awesome support system. Almost all of them know. Some it took me only a few months to tell them about me and others years. If it didn't come up I wouldn't bring it up that's why with some it took a while. But they just made me feel normal and unashamed.
High school experience is alright so far. 3.7 - 4 GPA. I keep to myself most of the time. I don't have any really close friends, but I just know a lot of people who I am on extremely good terms on, just don't classify on the friend level since it isn't really too personal. Nobody at school knows my legal status. My activities in real life and on the internet are mostly private from everyone around me including my parents. I prefer it that way.
My high school experience was fun. I had a small number of friends, I added one for each year of high school the same way I added an extracurricular activity each year. I kept out of touch with some but those were not a real loss. I still have a handful of my high school friends and they are just awesome. They all know about my status—I bugged them to vote for Maryland’s Tuition Reduction when it was on the ballot last November. They were a good support system, they really were. I never felt left out or odd. Most of them knew where I lived because I could count on them (or their parents) for rides home either from soccer or Mock Trial.
My teachers loved me, and I still have that family of teachers on the 3rd floor. My godmother, who was my soccer coach, was also a teacher at the school and that school became my home. I really took advantage of all that my school had to offer and I gave back. It was just perfect, and it was free. I was a stellar student until senior year. I still was but I just checked out so much. I just really could not be bothered after a while. I was a 4.0+ student, graduated 4th in a class of 500-something, got a SAT score of over 2000, ACT of 30; I knew I was smart but it hurt like hell when it seemed like it was for nothing.
School in general wasn't the best for me. I'm smart but my grades never reflected it. I have a name that can easily be made fun of and it was.. all through elementary and middle school. Worst part is that sometimes the teachers joined in too. I'll never forget that. Trying to defend myself in elementary and middle school only egged them on to keep teasing so by the time I was in high school I learned to keep to myself. Speak only when absolutely needed... become invisible. I talked to other kids and they talked to me, but I never had a friend perse that would come over to my house or that I'd go over to their house. So no I didn't have alot of friends, but I wasn't getting teased either. I kept to myself. My grades where were they needed to be to avoid flunking, and I had zero support system.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#4
04-09-2013, 05:37 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
7. When did you find out about your illegal status and, if different, when did it "hit" you? (For example, you might have known from a very young age, but you didn't truly understand what it meant until years later). What was your reaction/feelings at these points?
I knew from an early age but It hit me when I wanted to get my driving license and I was going to apply for an id the first time but hurricane Ike came, and in that time Mr. Perry had passed the law requiring ssn. It hit me worse in the Us financial crisis when I was not able to find a job because of the economy and my friends that had jobs told me to work with them that they could recommend me
I guess I've always kind of known? Never had a big moment where it "hit" me.
I have always said I knew I was different than the rest. I started to realize how different during the Bush/Gore elections (I was in 4th grade) kids kept asking each other who their parents voted for. That was a pretty awkward moment. When it really hit me what it meant was high school. I honestly thought I wasn't going to be able to even go to college because at my school they would offer college classes and I tried several times to apply but they always told me I needed to have an SSN. It was until I think my senior year that I went to a college forum that I found out about the Dream Act and they told me there that I didn't have to have a SSN to go to college or take those classes. I was so excited to know that. Unfortunately since I was super scared to be seen in there I left and didn't get to hear about TAFSA until quite recently. Even when I heard about it I tried getting someone at the CC to help me and they all didn't know or made me feel uncomfortable. I also believed that I shouldn't apply since it would be seen as bad since it's basically a type of welfare. lmao I don't think like that anymore and I'm going to send my application soon.
honestly, my parents made it known to me I was illegal since I entered this country when I was eight years old. But it really didn’t “hit” me until I graduated from highschool when I was forced to take a job that paid 50 dollars for 12 hours of work just to be able to survive.
I was 13 and wanted to go on vacation with friends. I just thought that it wasn't fair.
I always knew about my status. I remember being in 3rd and 4th grade and my mom telling me that if anybody asked where I was born to say the name of the city we lived in at the time. In 6th grade there were immigration raids where we lived. It was a small city and I remember the white vans driving around and the ICE agents going door to door on bikes. I knew not to answer the door when knocked. I didn’t truly understand what a hindrance it would be in my adult life until I was in High School. I believe it was 9th grade. But it wasn’t until 11th and 12th grade where I felt my emotions were really at their peak. I felt sad, angry, disappointed, suffocated. I saw that anything and everything that I had dreamt would not be like I thought.
I believe I started to first really start understanding details about my status and how “not normal” my life was going to be around the 911 terrorist attack. This happened about 6 months before I was able to get a driving permit. Before 911, FL gave driver's licenses/ID to undocumented people. I was told because of 911, I wasn't going to be able to start driving like a normal teenager. It was shocking and confusing at the time, but at the time I didn’t realize that this would be an ongoing battle and inconvenience for several years to come. At that age, it wasn’t too unusual for someone not to drive or have a car. I had a few USC friends who were also late to first start driving and I just associated myself as one of those that were just too “lazy” to go to the dmv and that I didn’t have money for a car. Being undocumented did not really “hit me” and start affecting me in a bad way until I was about 18 years old and graduated high school. This was when my friends started going out to bars and I could not go. I could not even watch a Rated R movie since I did not have ID. Also, as I was getting older, it was getting more difficult to explain why I did not have a driver's license and/or car and why they always had to pick me up. When I was 20 years old, (not going to get into too many details, unless you need them) I was finally able to get a temporary driver’s license. I finally felt normal for a short 2 years, but then my license had expired and I was no longer able to renew it. At this time, at the age of 22 was when it hit me the hardest that I was undocumented and my life was going nowhere. I slowly started isolating myself from everyone I knew so that I did not have to explain to them why I couldn’t go somewhere and to avoid awkward situations. I also was slowly fearing driving without a license more and more and was not getting out of my house much. I felt very very bad about myself at this point.
high school when i couldnt get dl or scholarship. Disappointments
I found out when we were still in Mexico, that we were coming illegally, but it didn't really "hit" until I was 15 and had to go get a driver's permit.
I've known since, probably, junior high, but it doesn't really affect you much until you're a junior in high school who can't drive.
Once I started High School, is when I truly knew what it meant. I would say specially sophomore year when most of my friends were getting their drivers licenses, part time jobs, etc. I was very confused and angry, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it so why be angry. I eventually got a job and my friends always drove anyway so it wasn't too bad.
My parents dropped hints from my tenth birthday on, but growing up (ages 8-12), I never really thought about nor did I fully realize the gravity of the situation I'd found myself in. It wasn't until I was 13 that it really hit me that I wasn't legal. That's when I first heard of the DREAM Act.
I knew that I was an illegal when I first came to America, but didn't understand what I was in for in reality. It hit me hard when I obviously couldn't get a license. It hit me even harder when I couldn't work. My parents did go through financial crisis, and still do, but manage. Which was like seeing a sinking ship without saving people on board.
I always knew, my mom lived in fear and it was always present in our home. I didn’t quite understand the fear or the consequences until I was in HS. Until, my older brother and sister graduated and I began to see what it meant to be an illegal. What it would mean in a few years once I also graduated. My senior year was depressing. Watching everyone apply to college and receive their acceptance letters and scholarships and not being able to personally feel that same joy was heartbreaking. Being called down to the counselor’s office because they do not understand why you haven’t applied and having to explain your sob story. Watching everyone compare their plans once the acceptance letters rolled in and college decisions were posted in the front office for everyone to see and your name not being listed. Ohhh the joy!
I didn’t really understood that I was illegal until I was around 10 but it never really hit me until my older brother couldn’t get his license which meant I wouldn’t be able to either. Then, not being able to get all the scholarships I qualified for or apply to colleges. It was just depressing.
I knew some time when I was like 12/13 but it didn't hit me until high school when I was like shit, I won't be able to work or drive. As I mentioned, I also thought I might not be able to attend college. I honestly never let it get me too down. I always had hope that something would come around. I didn't want to believe that my life would be like that forever.
I was kind of directed hinted it since about 4th grade... but I only knew about it around 7th grade "kind of". It was only at the beginning of high school when everything around me was slowly closing in and restricting me. I thought I wouldn't be able to go college... and I'm actually still kind of debating going now because the load of BS with legal status, work authorization, and really high debt that would just be a really huge pain to pay off... I mean if Americans are complaining about the cost of college now.... with the security of being a citizen and lifelong legal employment, ability for any type of loan, scholarship, or financial aid.. it kind of really sucks to be undocumented. I'm just really fortunate I'm not like some of the other people on this forum who basically have "years wasted"... I'm one of the lucky few out of the unfortunate ones who came to the US as children. I'm 17 and I have work employment (2yr), a permanent social security card, and the ability to get a license, at years before they're critically needed.
In middle school, some friends and I went down to the main office to get work permit forms to get jobs. I wanted to work because I wanted to pull my own weight at the house. I watched a lot of telly and what I saw on tv were kids who had part-time jobs to pay for their own things. I hated asking my aunt or uncle for money. If they did not offer it, I felt awkward asking. So we went downstairs and got the forms. It was then that I saw that it required a SSN. I asked my aunt and she said I did not have one, so I did what I always did: I looked it up online. One of the great (and not-so-great) things about my life is that I learned to be independent. I started using a computer immediately I got to the United States. The questions I was too shy or afraid to ask, I looked it up. So I looked it up and started reading. I did not quite know what I was but I knew I was not a citizen, but was I a “foreign national”, “an asylee” “an immigrant” “an alien”. I did not understand but that was my first foray into my legal status. In freshman/sophomore year of high school, I fully understood that I was an undocumented student. I followed the very first proposal of the DREAM Act. I added tags about “Dream Act” and “Immigration” to my yahoo alerts. I knew what I was and I was scared but I was hopeful. I had read about schools that accepted students like me as long as their grades were top-notch, so I worked hard to keep them up. When I first took the PSAT and did well, everyone told me how many scholarships I would qualify for and I just kept mum because of that little asterisk on the paper; I wasn’t a citizen. There is this particular hallway in my school where the guidance counselors post the names of students who got accepted and where they got accepted into and how much they got. I was really hoping my name would be on there by senior year. I applied to the schools that accepted those like me: private schools. I got rejected and I cried because I knew, I just knew it had to be because I was illegal (who really knows)? At that point, it became very unbearable to walk down that hallway. I would avoid it on my way to lunch and I would try to avoid my teachers who asked, “so where did you get into?” They didn’t know they were causing even more pain, but it hurt. I protested in the geekiest way I could. I was late to class, didn’t bother with assignments, and my little nerdy self still couldn’t handle it, I actually made those assignments up. My AP Statistics class was what really held me together. It kept me sane. I loved math and in that class, all I had was data to analyze and make sense of. When I truly understood that I was illegal, I was scared, angry, hurt and betrayed. I felt like my teachers and guidance counselors and everyone else had told me this huge lie that all you had to do in school was study and work hard and college would come to you. I was scared because I did not know what exactly I could do that would not have me deported. I feared that the most because I realized I was not the same kid who came here; I had grown a lot and I most likely would not fit in back home. I was angry that my aunt did not do what she was supposed to do. I attributed it to her not knowing but I was just so angry that my life had now been disrupted. I was hurt that I would not be able to do the things I wanted, no proper job, no driving, and I was especially afraid of not going to college because that meant being my aunt’s personal slave for life.
I've kind of always known. I don't remember crossing over or anything but adults talk about it and kids pick up on it. It "hit" me when I took drivers ed. Luckily I didn't need a social to get a driver's permit so I was able to learn how to drive. I passed the course and got my "blue slip". Against my wishes, my mom dragged me to the DMV. When asked for the paper work I handed them the blue slip and my mom handed them the fakest SS# card ever. My mom doesn't speak english so I had to translate to her. The lady told us the number was fake and if she wanted to she could have us arrested. She let us go and my mom yelled at me the whole way home... Apparently, it was my fault they didn't accept the SS#. I didn't try hard enough -_- After that, my status "hit" me the hardest after dropping out of college. That's when I lost all hope.
I knew from an early age but It hit me when I wanted to get my driving license and I was going to apply for an id the first time but hurricane Ike came, and in that time Mr. Perry had passed the law requiring ssn. It hit me worse in the Us financial crisis when I was not able to find a job because of the economy and my friends that had jobs told me to work with them that they could recommend me
I guess I've always kind of known? Never had a big moment where it "hit" me.
I have always said I knew I was different than the rest. I started to realize how different during the Bush/Gore elections (I was in 4th grade) kids kept asking each other who their parents voted for. That was a pretty awkward moment. When it really hit me what it meant was high school. I honestly thought I wasn't going to be able to even go to college because at my school they would offer college classes and I tried several times to apply but they always told me I needed to have an SSN. It was until I think my senior year that I went to a college forum that I found out about the Dream Act and they told me there that I didn't have to have a SSN to go to college or take those classes. I was so excited to know that. Unfortunately since I was super scared to be seen in there I left and didn't get to hear about TAFSA until quite recently. Even when I heard about it I tried getting someone at the CC to help me and they all didn't know or made me feel uncomfortable. I also believed that I shouldn't apply since it would be seen as bad since it's basically a type of welfare. lmao I don't think like that anymore and I'm going to send my application soon.
honestly, my parents made it known to me I was illegal since I entered this country when I was eight years old. But it really didn’t “hit” me until I graduated from highschool when I was forced to take a job that paid 50 dollars for 12 hours of work just to be able to survive.
I was 13 and wanted to go on vacation with friends. I just thought that it wasn't fair.
I always knew about my status. I remember being in 3rd and 4th grade and my mom telling me that if anybody asked where I was born to say the name of the city we lived in at the time. In 6th grade there were immigration raids where we lived. It was a small city and I remember the white vans driving around and the ICE agents going door to door on bikes. I knew not to answer the door when knocked. I didn’t truly understand what a hindrance it would be in my adult life until I was in High School. I believe it was 9th grade. But it wasn’t until 11th and 12th grade where I felt my emotions were really at their peak. I felt sad, angry, disappointed, suffocated. I saw that anything and everything that I had dreamt would not be like I thought.
I believe I started to first really start understanding details about my status and how “not normal” my life was going to be around the 911 terrorist attack. This happened about 6 months before I was able to get a driving permit. Before 911, FL gave driver's licenses/ID to undocumented people. I was told because of 911, I wasn't going to be able to start driving like a normal teenager. It was shocking and confusing at the time, but at the time I didn’t realize that this would be an ongoing battle and inconvenience for several years to come. At that age, it wasn’t too unusual for someone not to drive or have a car. I had a few USC friends who were also late to first start driving and I just associated myself as one of those that were just too “lazy” to go to the dmv and that I didn’t have money for a car. Being undocumented did not really “hit me” and start affecting me in a bad way until I was about 18 years old and graduated high school. This was when my friends started going out to bars and I could not go. I could not even watch a Rated R movie since I did not have ID. Also, as I was getting older, it was getting more difficult to explain why I did not have a driver's license and/or car and why they always had to pick me up. When I was 20 years old, (not going to get into too many details, unless you need them) I was finally able to get a temporary driver’s license. I finally felt normal for a short 2 years, but then my license had expired and I was no longer able to renew it. At this time, at the age of 22 was when it hit me the hardest that I was undocumented and my life was going nowhere. I slowly started isolating myself from everyone I knew so that I did not have to explain to them why I couldn’t go somewhere and to avoid awkward situations. I also was slowly fearing driving without a license more and more and was not getting out of my house much. I felt very very bad about myself at this point.
high school when i couldnt get dl or scholarship. Disappointments
I found out when we were still in Mexico, that we were coming illegally, but it didn't really "hit" until I was 15 and had to go get a driver's permit.
I've known since, probably, junior high, but it doesn't really affect you much until you're a junior in high school who can't drive.
Once I started High School, is when I truly knew what it meant. I would say specially sophomore year when most of my friends were getting their drivers licenses, part time jobs, etc. I was very confused and angry, but I knew I couldn't do anything about it so why be angry. I eventually got a job and my friends always drove anyway so it wasn't too bad.
My parents dropped hints from my tenth birthday on, but growing up (ages 8-12), I never really thought about nor did I fully realize the gravity of the situation I'd found myself in. It wasn't until I was 13 that it really hit me that I wasn't legal. That's when I first heard of the DREAM Act.
I knew that I was an illegal when I first came to America, but didn't understand what I was in for in reality. It hit me hard when I obviously couldn't get a license. It hit me even harder when I couldn't work. My parents did go through financial crisis, and still do, but manage. Which was like seeing a sinking ship without saving people on board.
I always knew, my mom lived in fear and it was always present in our home. I didn’t quite understand the fear or the consequences until I was in HS. Until, my older brother and sister graduated and I began to see what it meant to be an illegal. What it would mean in a few years once I also graduated. My senior year was depressing. Watching everyone apply to college and receive their acceptance letters and scholarships and not being able to personally feel that same joy was heartbreaking. Being called down to the counselor’s office because they do not understand why you haven’t applied and having to explain your sob story. Watching everyone compare their plans once the acceptance letters rolled in and college decisions were posted in the front office for everyone to see and your name not being listed. Ohhh the joy!
I didn’t really understood that I was illegal until I was around 10 but it never really hit me until my older brother couldn’t get his license which meant I wouldn’t be able to either. Then, not being able to get all the scholarships I qualified for or apply to colleges. It was just depressing.
I knew some time when I was like 12/13 but it didn't hit me until high school when I was like shit, I won't be able to work or drive. As I mentioned, I also thought I might not be able to attend college. I honestly never let it get me too down. I always had hope that something would come around. I didn't want to believe that my life would be like that forever.
I was kind of directed hinted it since about 4th grade... but I only knew about it around 7th grade "kind of". It was only at the beginning of high school when everything around me was slowly closing in and restricting me. I thought I wouldn't be able to go college... and I'm actually still kind of debating going now because the load of BS with legal status, work authorization, and really high debt that would just be a really huge pain to pay off... I mean if Americans are complaining about the cost of college now.... with the security of being a citizen and lifelong legal employment, ability for any type of loan, scholarship, or financial aid.. it kind of really sucks to be undocumented. I'm just really fortunate I'm not like some of the other people on this forum who basically have "years wasted"... I'm one of the lucky few out of the unfortunate ones who came to the US as children. I'm 17 and I have work employment (2yr), a permanent social security card, and the ability to get a license, at years before they're critically needed.
In middle school, some friends and I went down to the main office to get work permit forms to get jobs. I wanted to work because I wanted to pull my own weight at the house. I watched a lot of telly and what I saw on tv were kids who had part-time jobs to pay for their own things. I hated asking my aunt or uncle for money. If they did not offer it, I felt awkward asking. So we went downstairs and got the forms. It was then that I saw that it required a SSN. I asked my aunt and she said I did not have one, so I did what I always did: I looked it up online. One of the great (and not-so-great) things about my life is that I learned to be independent. I started using a computer immediately I got to the United States. The questions I was too shy or afraid to ask, I looked it up. So I looked it up and started reading. I did not quite know what I was but I knew I was not a citizen, but was I a “foreign national”, “an asylee” “an immigrant” “an alien”. I did not understand but that was my first foray into my legal status. In freshman/sophomore year of high school, I fully understood that I was an undocumented student. I followed the very first proposal of the DREAM Act. I added tags about “Dream Act” and “Immigration” to my yahoo alerts. I knew what I was and I was scared but I was hopeful. I had read about schools that accepted students like me as long as their grades were top-notch, so I worked hard to keep them up. When I first took the PSAT and did well, everyone told me how many scholarships I would qualify for and I just kept mum because of that little asterisk on the paper; I wasn’t a citizen. There is this particular hallway in my school where the guidance counselors post the names of students who got accepted and where they got accepted into and how much they got. I was really hoping my name would be on there by senior year. I applied to the schools that accepted those like me: private schools. I got rejected and I cried because I knew, I just knew it had to be because I was illegal (who really knows)? At that point, it became very unbearable to walk down that hallway. I would avoid it on my way to lunch and I would try to avoid my teachers who asked, “so where did you get into?” They didn’t know they were causing even more pain, but it hurt. I protested in the geekiest way I could. I was late to class, didn’t bother with assignments, and my little nerdy self still couldn’t handle it, I actually made those assignments up. My AP Statistics class was what really held me together. It kept me sane. I loved math and in that class, all I had was data to analyze and make sense of. When I truly understood that I was illegal, I was scared, angry, hurt and betrayed. I felt like my teachers and guidance counselors and everyone else had told me this huge lie that all you had to do in school was study and work hard and college would come to you. I was scared because I did not know what exactly I could do that would not have me deported. I feared that the most because I realized I was not the same kid who came here; I had grown a lot and I most likely would not fit in back home. I was angry that my aunt did not do what she was supposed to do. I attributed it to her not knowing but I was just so angry that my life had now been disrupted. I was hurt that I would not be able to do the things I wanted, no proper job, no driving, and I was especially afraid of not going to college because that meant being my aunt’s personal slave for life.
I've kind of always known. I don't remember crossing over or anything but adults talk about it and kids pick up on it. It "hit" me when I took drivers ed. Luckily I didn't need a social to get a driver's permit so I was able to learn how to drive. I passed the course and got my "blue slip". Against my wishes, my mom dragged me to the DMV. When asked for the paper work I handed them the blue slip and my mom handed them the fakest SS# card ever. My mom doesn't speak english so I had to translate to her. The lady told us the number was fake and if she wanted to she could have us arrested. She let us go and my mom yelled at me the whole way home... Apparently, it was my fault they didn't accept the SS#. I didn't try hard enough -_- After that, my status "hit" me the hardest after dropping out of college. That's when I lost all hope.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#5
04-09-2013, 05:38 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
8. How do you feel towards your parents or towards whomever brought you to the US? Have these feelings changed throughout the years?
My feelings haven really changed much the struggles that they face im struggling with also
I'm a bit annoyed at my family since they had chances to legalize me, but never took them. I was told for the longest time that "don't worry, your status will get fixed! Lots of people have problems like that and they were able to fix it." For the longest time I believed it, but those moments never materialized. By the time I was old enough to read and comprehend immigration law to the point where it would help me, it was too late for me -- I was an adult visa overstay.
I respect and love my parents and even though life's been tough I'm glad they decided to come over here. I love it here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I would never think of blaming them for my problems.
I love my parents. I do not have any bad feelings for them for having me brought to the country illegally.
I'm very happy my mom brought us here. She was a single parent raising all of us.
When I was 10 my mom and I moved back to Mexico and I hated it. I begged her to go back. Growing up I resented one thing about my family. Both my parents and my 4 siblings (all of whom are much older than I) would see me in a different light because I didn’t grow up in Mexico like they did. My mother and I had disagreements and she repeatedly would tell me that I never understood something because we were from two different cultures. To which I replied, “Well you shouldn’t have brought me here when I was 8!” They saw me as an American, a “gringa”. I don’t think they realized how singled out they made me feel. My siblings did the same, my dad not so much but that’s because I didn’t see him often, I think. I learned from a very early age that I would never be Mexican enough or American enough for either country, culture, races, etc. I don’t give much blame to my parents from bringing me here, but I do hate how my family made me feel about my embracement of the American culture.
There have been times where I would be feeling really down and I would mention in an argument that my life was like this because my parents never “did anything” about our status. Everyone that I knew (up until I joined DAP in 2012) that was not born in the country including family and friends had at least a work authorization card and/or driver’s license except for me. My parents and sister had driver's licenses because they got them before 911. But in all honesty, I do not blame my parents or hold anything against them.
didnt hate bc i have a chance for success bc im in US
I view my mom in a negative light, since she could've easily brought us to the U.S. with papers (her employer had a petition), but she returned to Mexico because my sister had an accident from which she recovered in 2 months, and didn't wait long enough. I'm not angry at her, and I still love her, it's just that I think she's ignorant most of the time, and lives in some kind of fantasy land.
No resentment at all. Complete admiration.
I'm very happy my parents gave me this opportunity. I never complained about it to them. I know I would not have it as good as I have it here. I know they have sacrificed a lot for me and I'm grateful for this opportunity, my success and failure are based of myself not my parents.
For a very long time, I was very angry at my parents for putting us all into such a shitty situation. I was angry that they didn't take the opportunities they had to be legalized; that their inaction would one day put me at my lowest ebb. It wasn't until recently that I really learned to forgive them for their mistakes. I realize now that they did try to take certain opportunities, but they never lead to anything due to certain circumstances.
Best in the world. I'm thankful to everyone who participated in bringing me here. My life in Mexico, had I not come to America, would've been totally different. Not only do I get to live in this country, I have a profession to look forward to. It would've been impossible had I stayed in Mexico. Education there is a luxury, I believe.
I understand what my parents did and I harbor no hard feelings towards them. I sometimes feel angry at the lack of knowledge/ignorance that was so present when I was younger. But in the end, I know that it grew from a place of fear. I can’t blame anyone for having fear of the system; we all know its consequences.
I don’t carry any resentment or anything towards my mother mainly because she never knew the whole immigration system here and all she’s ever done is try to figure what we could do to change our situation. My father on the other hand, I don’t care much for at all. He knew how it worked here and never wanted to do anything to get our papers properly. He blames my mother for everything, mainly for not allowing him to do illegal things (fake papers), which I never understood considering I know everything and have common sense. I don’t talk to him anymore.
I have always been extremely grateful. When I think about what they've done for us it makes me cry. I understand that everything they do is for the best. I think if we weren't in this situation I wouldn't appreciate the things that I have as much as I do.
No real opinion. Thoughts against my parents never crossed my mind. They're my parents. In a way, I should be mad that they brought me here.
I was angry towards my parents but their reaction just lessened my anger. They were an ocean away so they let me be angry at them, I took responsibility for everything and what could I say after that. They actually apologized, and from Nigerian parents that is huge. So my anger towards them lessened but my anger towards my aunt is a work in progress. The woman was just a character. What I thought was contributing to the household, she saw as servitude and it was something she thought would continue after I graduated high school. So…she…I have to remain in contact with her because my mom wants me to but…that woman is something else.
I was really pissed off at them. Especially knowing that they had a chance to fix their papers back in the 80's with that whole amnisty thing. My uncle and his family all became residents and they kept telling my parents to apply, but since they "weren't planning on staying in the USA too long" they really weren't interested. 27 years later... we're still here. I still get pissed sometimes.. but I've always kept it to myself. I've seen my mom and dad go to work every day since we got to the US. Doing hard labor and getting paid minimum wage, getting fired (almost deported) for not having papers, having to find new minimum wage jobs, going to work while being sick/injured because they can't afford to miss a day. They're suffering too
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#6
04-09-2013, 05:39 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
9. What types of jobs have you held throughout your time in the US? How did you feel about those jobs? What obstacles/limitations were faced?
I have worked in restaurants, as a busser, i have been shy and didnt want to get involved as a server, Ive worked a s a dishwasher and in warehouses, and now retail and possibly soon in a printing press plant. my limitations have been lack of experience and feelings of helplessness when I am desperate
Lots of yard work. Shoveling snow, raking & mowing lawns, painting, garden work, etc. There was also walking dogs, babysitting, doing people's programming homework online for money, and odd jobs. Briefly worked at a shady used appliance store where I was paid in cash to clean old fridges and ovens out so that they could be sold to people... Unfortunately never made enough to do anything other than subsist.
Basically just babysitting and hardly any of that. I would try to apply to jobs and I wouldn't have any luck where I would look because they wanted me to put down a number but I was too scared to do it. I didn't want to put down a made up number and then have it turn out that it belonged to a real individual or something like that. I was really scared of putting my family in danger of deportation.
My first job was working for my uncle in an upholstery shop. After that I worked in three different restaurants, and now currently work for a manufacturing facility.
What obstacles/limitations were faced?
most of my limitations have been financial due to me not being able to get a descent job.
I was very young when I left my home and my husband wouldn't allow me to do much. So therefore didn't have any jobs.
I’ve had jobs as an administrative assistant, admitting rep at a hospital and customer service rep in the hospital’s billing office, customer service job for a personal loan company, babysitter, and housekeeper. I feel like I gained valuable experience at all my office jobs. I hated babysitting and housekeeping. The obstacles I faced were: not knowing if I was going to have a job the next week, I felt I would be fired all the time because of my status. The application process was always nerve-wracking because I didn’t know if my fake social would be accepted. And I also could never advance in my positions because they required further background checks.
I do not feel comfortable revealing what I have done for work most of my life (not anything illegal or degrading, just wanting to protect identity and what not) I did for a brief time work as a server at a small restaurant that did not ask for any documents. They did not pay me a salary; I only made money with tips. My boss was a very scary man and I very much disliked working there. I lived a little on the far side from this job and I would often show up for work and there would be no business so I would end up making $20 or less ($0) and then leaving early since they did not need more than 1 server that night. This would be basically me paying for gas to drive there and back and working for free. Sometimes my boss would tell me that he didn’t have money to pay me that week and he would pay me the following week. I would have to tell him how much he owed me and sometimes he would question the amount or question if he had already paid me or not. In fact, I’m pretty sure he owes me $8 but I was too scared to ask for it. I ended up quitting for a few reasons, but what really made me make that final decision was when I got pulled over after work one night for not having a driver’s license. Luckily, I was given a warning, but finally I had a very valid excuse to get the hell out of there. The older I got, the harder it was to grasp the reality that I did not make much money and did not have any money saved up. It was awkward when friends would wonder why I didn't have any money when I lived at home and basically didn't have any bills.
ebay, tutor, cell phone store, restaurant. i feel stupid. feeling that i know im cut out for things much better than this. biggest limitation: no SSN so not many place to work
None.
I worked at the regional airport here in my city, summer construction work and now have a career-oriented job and also run a business. Limitations would be the inability to travel overseas, which severely inhibits your qualifications as an aspiring investment banker.
I worked at the KFC for 4 years, 3 of those years as a shift manager. After that I have pretty much worked as customer service/administrative. I have gotten pretty lucky with my jobs. They aren't the best but I knew friends that are permanent residents or citizens and had crappier jobs. Although I got laid of my recent job in January and it sucks because, since I'm pregnant I really needed that job. My husband and I are barely getting by but we are optimistic. As soon as I have my baby I will be job hunting again. No one seems to want to hire a very pregnant woman right now.
I've worked as a babysitter, worked at a non-profit, and worked at a small company. As a babysitter, there were no questions asked; the parents would leave me with the children and pay me hourly for my work. At the non-profit, the issue of an SSN did come up, but they made an exception for my case since I was a minor at the time. At the small company, I was working as a contractor and was absolutely terrified that they would find out about my lack of a social (this was before DACA). The anxiety started to get to me, and I started becoming depressed again.
Construction jobs. Oh lord, are those awesome.
My first job was at a Private Catholic School. I was an assistant teacher/substitute. Terrible! Not having a degree left me unable to grow. Not to mention the constant questions and interrogations as to why I didn’t just go to college and get my license. Severely under paid and unable to stand up to a horrible boss for fear of being fired.
Now I am an executive assistant (as explained in previous question) and life is better.
My first job was at a daycare in a beauty school. I only worked Friday night and Saturday and got paid cash. Then, my mom’s boss let us come work in his office during the summer. I had gotten a work permit from a previous case I had and was able to get a nursing job but then had to resign when the work permit was expired and I couldn’t renew. The job I have now is a nursing job but its per diem so I don’t work as much as I would like. Its definitely not where I thought I would be but it’s the only place I can work because they haven’t asked for a renewed work permit. I would love to get a new job but still waiting for my DACA approval so I'm just trying to be patient.
I've never had a real job. Most of the money I've made is either through babysitting or baking cakes haha. I love to bake and I'm pretty good at it so people will order stuff from me. It's not much but it was good for things like books and stuff. I was always too scared to work illegally that's why I stuck with school
N/A
I have been a tutor, I have cleaned people’s houses, I have helped teachers grade papers, I have babysat, I have braided hair, I have helped people do little errands here and there. I did not mind those jobs, they were not bad. It was actually nice to work for my tuition. Some of it was back-breaking, fatigue-inducing work but it was work and I actually do not regret doing any of it.
I've gotta say I've been lucky job-wise. For one of my senior year in HS, I took a class that required me to get a job. I found a job in a small doctor's office and when I got fired from there, a previous employer of that doctor (also a doctor) asked me to work with them. From there, that doctor decided to go work for the university where she graduated and took me with her. I was able to work for that university until about 3 years ago when I got fired. That's 10 years of employment right there. After that, I had to actually start at the very bottom working for an agency doing hard, backbreaking labor. Luckily, I pick up on things very quickly and have since been promoted 3 times. I now have my own cubicle inside an office. My obstacles/limitations have been low wages and not being able to "choose" where I work. I've kind of had to fill out many many many applications and see who chooses to hire me.
I have worked in restaurants, as a busser, i have been shy and didnt want to get involved as a server, Ive worked a s a dishwasher and in warehouses, and now retail and possibly soon in a printing press plant. my limitations have been lack of experience and feelings of helplessness when I am desperate
Lots of yard work. Shoveling snow, raking & mowing lawns, painting, garden work, etc. There was also walking dogs, babysitting, doing people's programming homework online for money, and odd jobs. Briefly worked at a shady used appliance store where I was paid in cash to clean old fridges and ovens out so that they could be sold to people... Unfortunately never made enough to do anything other than subsist.
Basically just babysitting and hardly any of that. I would try to apply to jobs and I wouldn't have any luck where I would look because they wanted me to put down a number but I was too scared to do it. I didn't want to put down a made up number and then have it turn out that it belonged to a real individual or something like that. I was really scared of putting my family in danger of deportation.
My first job was working for my uncle in an upholstery shop. After that I worked in three different restaurants, and now currently work for a manufacturing facility.
What obstacles/limitations were faced?
most of my limitations have been financial due to me not being able to get a descent job.
I was very young when I left my home and my husband wouldn't allow me to do much. So therefore didn't have any jobs.
I’ve had jobs as an administrative assistant, admitting rep at a hospital and customer service rep in the hospital’s billing office, customer service job for a personal loan company, babysitter, and housekeeper. I feel like I gained valuable experience at all my office jobs. I hated babysitting and housekeeping. The obstacles I faced were: not knowing if I was going to have a job the next week, I felt I would be fired all the time because of my status. The application process was always nerve-wracking because I didn’t know if my fake social would be accepted. And I also could never advance in my positions because they required further background checks.
I do not feel comfortable revealing what I have done for work most of my life (not anything illegal or degrading, just wanting to protect identity and what not) I did for a brief time work as a server at a small restaurant that did not ask for any documents. They did not pay me a salary; I only made money with tips. My boss was a very scary man and I very much disliked working there. I lived a little on the far side from this job and I would often show up for work and there would be no business so I would end up making $20 or less ($0) and then leaving early since they did not need more than 1 server that night. This would be basically me paying for gas to drive there and back and working for free. Sometimes my boss would tell me that he didn’t have money to pay me that week and he would pay me the following week. I would have to tell him how much he owed me and sometimes he would question the amount or question if he had already paid me or not. In fact, I’m pretty sure he owes me $8 but I was too scared to ask for it. I ended up quitting for a few reasons, but what really made me make that final decision was when I got pulled over after work one night for not having a driver’s license. Luckily, I was given a warning, but finally I had a very valid excuse to get the hell out of there. The older I got, the harder it was to grasp the reality that I did not make much money and did not have any money saved up. It was awkward when friends would wonder why I didn't have any money when I lived at home and basically didn't have any bills.
ebay, tutor, cell phone store, restaurant. i feel stupid. feeling that i know im cut out for things much better than this. biggest limitation: no SSN so not many place to work
None.
I worked at the regional airport here in my city, summer construction work and now have a career-oriented job and also run a business. Limitations would be the inability to travel overseas, which severely inhibits your qualifications as an aspiring investment banker.
I worked at the KFC for 4 years, 3 of those years as a shift manager. After that I have pretty much worked as customer service/administrative. I have gotten pretty lucky with my jobs. They aren't the best but I knew friends that are permanent residents or citizens and had crappier jobs. Although I got laid of my recent job in January and it sucks because, since I'm pregnant I really needed that job. My husband and I are barely getting by but we are optimistic. As soon as I have my baby I will be job hunting again. No one seems to want to hire a very pregnant woman right now.
I've worked as a babysitter, worked at a non-profit, and worked at a small company. As a babysitter, there were no questions asked; the parents would leave me with the children and pay me hourly for my work. At the non-profit, the issue of an SSN did come up, but they made an exception for my case since I was a minor at the time. At the small company, I was working as a contractor and was absolutely terrified that they would find out about my lack of a social (this was before DACA). The anxiety started to get to me, and I started becoming depressed again.
Construction jobs. Oh lord, are those awesome.
My first job was at a Private Catholic School. I was an assistant teacher/substitute. Terrible! Not having a degree left me unable to grow. Not to mention the constant questions and interrogations as to why I didn’t just go to college and get my license. Severely under paid and unable to stand up to a horrible boss for fear of being fired.
Now I am an executive assistant (as explained in previous question) and life is better.
My first job was at a daycare in a beauty school. I only worked Friday night and Saturday and got paid cash. Then, my mom’s boss let us come work in his office during the summer. I had gotten a work permit from a previous case I had and was able to get a nursing job but then had to resign when the work permit was expired and I couldn’t renew. The job I have now is a nursing job but its per diem so I don’t work as much as I would like. Its definitely not where I thought I would be but it’s the only place I can work because they haven’t asked for a renewed work permit. I would love to get a new job but still waiting for my DACA approval so I'm just trying to be patient.
I've never had a real job. Most of the money I've made is either through babysitting or baking cakes haha. I love to bake and I'm pretty good at it so people will order stuff from me. It's not much but it was good for things like books and stuff. I was always too scared to work illegally that's why I stuck with school
N/A
I have been a tutor, I have cleaned people’s houses, I have helped teachers grade papers, I have babysat, I have braided hair, I have helped people do little errands here and there. I did not mind those jobs, they were not bad. It was actually nice to work for my tuition. Some of it was back-breaking, fatigue-inducing work but it was work and I actually do not regret doing any of it.
I've gotta say I've been lucky job-wise. For one of my senior year in HS, I took a class that required me to get a job. I found a job in a small doctor's office and when I got fired from there, a previous employer of that doctor (also a doctor) asked me to work with them. From there, that doctor decided to go work for the university where she graduated and took me with her. I was able to work for that university until about 3 years ago when I got fired. That's 10 years of employment right there. After that, I had to actually start at the very bottom working for an agency doing hard, backbreaking labor. Luckily, I pick up on things very quickly and have since been promoted 3 times. I now have my own cubicle inside an office. My obstacles/limitations have been low wages and not being able to "choose" where I work. I've kind of had to fill out many many many applications and see who chooses to hire me.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#7
04-09-2013, 05:40 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
10. Have you ever used illegal substances, drugs and or alcohol or participated in dangerous activities? What led you to make these choices?
No I have not used substances although I did think in the past
Bit of drinking. Occasionally to excess in social situations. I also ride a bike without a helmet being the rebel that I am.
Never my parents raised me to be a responsible, ethical, healthy individual and I would also not put myself in risk of being throwned to jail or worse deported because of some stupid thing like that.
The only drug I have used in the past, if you want to call it that, is Marijuana. I currently don’t smoke anymore after having a bad experience with it.
No, and some people wouldn't believe me because I used to hang out with gang members. But I was very mature and never fell for peer pressure.
No. I’ve drunk alcoholic beverages but I’m not a big drinker so I’ve never gotten in trouble.
My status does not make me result to drugs and alcohol. I feel strong in that sense.
alcohol, cigarette. Depression
I shoplifted when I was eleven. My friend told me we would steal a Gamecube game from Target (his idea) and after he took it out of the case, I walked out with the game. We got caught. Had to pay a $300 fine. I've been wanting to smoke marijuana, since I want to feel what it actually feels like (just once!)
drink regularly, but have never indulged in any illicit substances ever. I'm not entirely sure what qualifies as "dangerous" activities, but I doubt I've participated in any.
No illegal substances. I did love my beer! I don't see it as a bad choice to drink socially. I obviously haven't had any alcohol since I got pregnant. No illegal/dangerous activities. Clean as a whistle.
The most rebellious thing I've done in my life is stay up until 4 am, and only study for an hour. I'm over 21, and I've only been buzzed from drinking.
Nah, no time for that garbage. I guess you could say that I'm "straight-edge". I've seen so many tragedies because of that garbage. I don't want to be known as that cousin that left for America, and came back a druggie. I don't want to show up back there with 5 dollars on one hand and a hotdog in the other, either.
No, and I have never had any intention to do so.
No illegal substances but I have drank alcohol. I had a partying phase but never anything drastic.
Only alcohol and marijuana. I drink socially with friends and I can count the times I've smoked on one hand haha. I'm a scaredy cat, I don't like living dangerously or getting into trouble.
no.
Haha, yes. I have drank alcohol and I have used marijuana. Marijuana was out of curiosity and I like it. Alcohol is when it’s a party environment. I do not use either when school is in session but during breaks, I party with my friends. I only use them in party environments, not that I’m down and need to forget or anything. Schoolwork or a nap usually gets me out of that.
11. Now or in the past, have you experienced periods of depression, anxiety, or any other disorder? What do you think triggered these emotions?
I had depresion and anxiety from being undocumented
I have a low-grade depression, I guess? I'm not sure how much of it is from being an illegal though -- school was extremely stressful. I barely did anything outside of classwork jan-may and jun-dec of last year and really only slept a few hours each day (weekends included). I just don't feel any joy or happiness anymore -- just tiredness and drowsiness. I may go "haha, funny" at a joke, but I don't typically have an upbeat attitude. There hasn't been any sort of day that just felt amazing for me -- not the day I graduated college, nor the day when I got approved for DACA, nor the day when I got a real job. I just feel adrift and carried down the stream of time by outside forces.
After high school graduation this is how I have felt. I'm not sure if it really is depression but I have been a lot more stressed and anxious than before. Probably the fact that I felt liek a failure sometimes and thinking 24/7 about being undocumented.
There are times when I do get depressed but it has nothing to do with my status. Its mostly due now to family problems and not going out or doing anything.
No, I think I can tolerate alot. I tend to forget the bad things in my life. Like when I was in a foster home when I was 7. And all the problems I had with my husband.
Yes, I’ve had times of depression throughout my teenage and adult years. I’ve been suicidal at times. These are usually triggered in times where I don’t have a job and I cannot provide for myself financially. In my adults years I’ve only been unemployed 2 times. I’ve never been fired but there have been two times where I have been without a job, but the most important factor is that both of these times I’ve been unemployed for months and months. That is horrible for my emotional state. The last time I had a really bad episode I found myself without a job, nowhere to stay and alone and of course with no money. The bad episodes usually happen when I feel like I don’t have a reason to live. When I feel that I try to go down any path and I can’t because all of the doors are closed for me. Which has been my case most of the time whether I have a job or not, but when I’m unemployed all the free time on my hands is used thinking about this fact and that’s what just sends me over the edge.
I have often felt depressed and I also believe that I have social anxiety disorder. Although I do believe that these disorders have always been present, I feel that being undocumented has triggered them to become more severe than they could have been. Having to isolate myself so much from doing things and seeing people/meeting people has made me scared to do these things now that I can. I have gotten used to being alone and now it is hard to adjust back to having an active social life. It is something I am greatly suffering with till this day, even after being approved. I am considering therapy at this point to help with depression, self confidence and especially social anxiety. The depression comes and goes for me. Today I am okay, tomorrow I may be down. This could be a sign of a different disorder.
all of the above. no matter how hard i tried there was no future
I've felt "down" many, many, many times, yet I've gotten over these experiences over time...usually after I wake up the next day. The only time I've cried over my legal status was when I came home the first day of driver's ed, and I had my application for a driver's permit, asking for a social security number. I felt like a total foreigner, like an inferior person.
No, just motivation.
I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when I was 17 or so, they gave me all sorts of medicine. Tried the meds for a few days, totally made me feel like not myself and as if nothing bothered me. I was not a fan of that feeling, on how they just numb you emotionally completely, and I never took them again. I don't agree with their diagnosis, I think I had reasons to feel upset. Everyone gets upset doesn't just mean here take this pill and you won't feel anything.
I underwent psychotherapy for severe depression when I was in HS. I didn't disclose the fact that I was undocumented, but I talked about a lot of the negative thought patterns and fatalistic thinking I developed. This was around when I started to fully realize that life would be very difficult for me after high school, that I may not become a doctor (which is what I dreamt of becoming). On top of that, I had a ridiculous workload at school and was still recovering from when I was bullied mercilessly in middle school. I recovered for awhile, but entered another depressive episode in my senior year of HS because I knew I wouldn't be able to attend my first choice school (to which I was accepted) since the tuition was way beyond my means. I didn't seek treatment, though I came very close to suicide. When I entered my sophomore year of college, I became increasingly depressed (are you seeing a pattern here..?); I was uncertain as to whether I would be able to continue my degree program because the unpredictability of my financial status was really weighing me down. My grades plummeted, and then uh...as difficult as it is for me to admit this, I tried to kill myself during the spring semester.
Basically, I've been suffering from this for awhile. I'm actually still receiving treatment (thanks, private health insurance from work) and am on medication. I'm doing better than I was two years ago, but I occasionally have brief episodes of intense anxiety/anger, depression.
Oh, hell yes. Being undocumented is one reason why yes. It fu[]ng sucks.
Yes, depression and anxiety at my old work place. Now I still get these feelings but it’s just frustration from the limitations I live with daily do to my status.
I have had small periods of anxiety and depression (around high school mostly) but I’ve come to terms with the fact that everything is in God’s hands and I can’t do anything about it. My faith, my husband, my family and my close friends keep me from losing my mind.
I've gotten depressed when I needed to [deaths in the family, unfortunate events] but in general no. I'm a very happy person and appreciative of the things I have. I am honestly sometimes overwhelmed by my happiness as corny as that sounds. When I think of all the wonderful and understanding people in my life that love me i'm like fuck! people love me! that's awesome!
depression. a bit too much. I had one of my worse days yesterdays. I don't publicly show it though and hide it with fake emotions. I just go outside for 5 minutes or get my mind off the subject and then it isn't too bad. Though when I'm not thinking about immigration, I'm pretty happy. Never had another reason for depression.....
I am not qualified to diagnose myself but I think I may have had periods of depression, and I am fairly certain I have the anxiety one. There are times when I think my life is just bleak and I am going to be destined to work some low-paying job because I can’t afford my education. Those times are the worst. The anxiety one, I tend to panic and over-analyze everything which makes me panic even more, and I am jumpy…very very jumpy. My friends find it funny to poke me and watch me jump or shriek, but it’s not pleasant for me. The anxiety one, I think my undocumented status compounded that but I have a memory of some people throwing bangers (little fireworks) right behind me on Christmas/New-Year in Nigeria and that’s the earliest “anxiety” experience I have. The periods of depression are random but something triggers them, whether it is doing horribly on a test or reading about internships or scholarships and just down the line I see “US Citizen/Permanent Residents only”.
I'm bunching up these 2 questions because I feel they go hand in hand with my story. Here's where my story differs from everybody else's (or at least everybody who responded). After I stopped going to college in 2002ish, when I was around 19yrs old, I took it to the extreme! I decided, if the US would not allow me to be the good, smart, intelligent person that I wanted to be (my dream was always to become a doctor)... Then I would be the complete opposite!!! I was pissed at the world, I was pissed at my life! I drank and drank and drank some more, I took up smoking cigarrettes. I smoked weed. I used other drugs. Some nights I never made it home. Every time I thought I hit rock bottom, I managed to sink lower. I started cutting my hand, my arm, my thigh (those scars never leave!). I could care less about my well being. Somehow, I still managed to act normal during the day. I still made it to work every day.. and on time. This lasted for a while (years).. I don't even remember... I think I gradually stopped doing all those dangerous things. I still drink once in a while, and I definitely still smoke cigarettes (please don't ever start because it's impossible to quit!). I can definitely pin my status as being the trigger for these behaviors. Had I been allowed to continue with my education, I bet I wouldn't even be able to tell you what alcohol tasted like. No one in my family drank or smoked or used drugs. I guess if I think back to try and figure out why I did what i did... I'd say that I was tired of being a nobody. I realized, illegal or not, I'm going to die one day just like everybody else and since I can't do what I really want to do with my life, I might as well do something else because I only get one life and I'm not just going to sit at home and watch life pass me by.
No I have not used substances although I did think in the past
Bit of drinking. Occasionally to excess in social situations. I also ride a bike without a helmet being the rebel that I am.
Never my parents raised me to be a responsible, ethical, healthy individual and I would also not put myself in risk of being throwned to jail or worse deported because of some stupid thing like that.
The only drug I have used in the past, if you want to call it that, is Marijuana. I currently don’t smoke anymore after having a bad experience with it.
No, and some people wouldn't believe me because I used to hang out with gang members. But I was very mature and never fell for peer pressure.
No. I’ve drunk alcoholic beverages but I’m not a big drinker so I’ve never gotten in trouble.
My status does not make me result to drugs and alcohol. I feel strong in that sense.
alcohol, cigarette. Depression
I shoplifted when I was eleven. My friend told me we would steal a Gamecube game from Target (his idea) and after he took it out of the case, I walked out with the game. We got caught. Had to pay a $300 fine. I've been wanting to smoke marijuana, since I want to feel what it actually feels like (just once!)
drink regularly, but have never indulged in any illicit substances ever. I'm not entirely sure what qualifies as "dangerous" activities, but I doubt I've participated in any.
No illegal substances. I did love my beer! I don't see it as a bad choice to drink socially. I obviously haven't had any alcohol since I got pregnant. No illegal/dangerous activities. Clean as a whistle.
The most rebellious thing I've done in my life is stay up until 4 am, and only study for an hour. I'm over 21, and I've only been buzzed from drinking.
Nah, no time for that garbage. I guess you could say that I'm "straight-edge". I've seen so many tragedies because of that garbage. I don't want to be known as that cousin that left for America, and came back a druggie. I don't want to show up back there with 5 dollars on one hand and a hotdog in the other, either.
No, and I have never had any intention to do so.
No illegal substances but I have drank alcohol. I had a partying phase but never anything drastic.
Only alcohol and marijuana. I drink socially with friends and I can count the times I've smoked on one hand haha. I'm a scaredy cat, I don't like living dangerously or getting into trouble.
no.
Haha, yes. I have drank alcohol and I have used marijuana. Marijuana was out of curiosity and I like it. Alcohol is when it’s a party environment. I do not use either when school is in session but during breaks, I party with my friends. I only use them in party environments, not that I’m down and need to forget or anything. Schoolwork or a nap usually gets me out of that.
11. Now or in the past, have you experienced periods of depression, anxiety, or any other disorder? What do you think triggered these emotions?
I had depresion and anxiety from being undocumented
I have a low-grade depression, I guess? I'm not sure how much of it is from being an illegal though -- school was extremely stressful. I barely did anything outside of classwork jan-may and jun-dec of last year and really only slept a few hours each day (weekends included). I just don't feel any joy or happiness anymore -- just tiredness and drowsiness. I may go "haha, funny" at a joke, but I don't typically have an upbeat attitude. There hasn't been any sort of day that just felt amazing for me -- not the day I graduated college, nor the day when I got approved for DACA, nor the day when I got a real job. I just feel adrift and carried down the stream of time by outside forces.
After high school graduation this is how I have felt. I'm not sure if it really is depression but I have been a lot more stressed and anxious than before. Probably the fact that I felt liek a failure sometimes and thinking 24/7 about being undocumented.
There are times when I do get depressed but it has nothing to do with my status. Its mostly due now to family problems and not going out or doing anything.
No, I think I can tolerate alot. I tend to forget the bad things in my life. Like when I was in a foster home when I was 7. And all the problems I had with my husband.
Yes, I’ve had times of depression throughout my teenage and adult years. I’ve been suicidal at times. These are usually triggered in times where I don’t have a job and I cannot provide for myself financially. In my adults years I’ve only been unemployed 2 times. I’ve never been fired but there have been two times where I have been without a job, but the most important factor is that both of these times I’ve been unemployed for months and months. That is horrible for my emotional state. The last time I had a really bad episode I found myself without a job, nowhere to stay and alone and of course with no money. The bad episodes usually happen when I feel like I don’t have a reason to live. When I feel that I try to go down any path and I can’t because all of the doors are closed for me. Which has been my case most of the time whether I have a job or not, but when I’m unemployed all the free time on my hands is used thinking about this fact and that’s what just sends me over the edge.
I have often felt depressed and I also believe that I have social anxiety disorder. Although I do believe that these disorders have always been present, I feel that being undocumented has triggered them to become more severe than they could have been. Having to isolate myself so much from doing things and seeing people/meeting people has made me scared to do these things now that I can. I have gotten used to being alone and now it is hard to adjust back to having an active social life. It is something I am greatly suffering with till this day, even after being approved. I am considering therapy at this point to help with depression, self confidence and especially social anxiety. The depression comes and goes for me. Today I am okay, tomorrow I may be down. This could be a sign of a different disorder.
all of the above. no matter how hard i tried there was no future
I've felt "down" many, many, many times, yet I've gotten over these experiences over time...usually after I wake up the next day. The only time I've cried over my legal status was when I came home the first day of driver's ed, and I had my application for a driver's permit, asking for a social security number. I felt like a total foreigner, like an inferior person.
No, just motivation.
I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when I was 17 or so, they gave me all sorts of medicine. Tried the meds for a few days, totally made me feel like not myself and as if nothing bothered me. I was not a fan of that feeling, on how they just numb you emotionally completely, and I never took them again. I don't agree with their diagnosis, I think I had reasons to feel upset. Everyone gets upset doesn't just mean here take this pill and you won't feel anything.
I underwent psychotherapy for severe depression when I was in HS. I didn't disclose the fact that I was undocumented, but I talked about a lot of the negative thought patterns and fatalistic thinking I developed. This was around when I started to fully realize that life would be very difficult for me after high school, that I may not become a doctor (which is what I dreamt of becoming). On top of that, I had a ridiculous workload at school and was still recovering from when I was bullied mercilessly in middle school. I recovered for awhile, but entered another depressive episode in my senior year of HS because I knew I wouldn't be able to attend my first choice school (to which I was accepted) since the tuition was way beyond my means. I didn't seek treatment, though I came very close to suicide. When I entered my sophomore year of college, I became increasingly depressed (are you seeing a pattern here..?); I was uncertain as to whether I would be able to continue my degree program because the unpredictability of my financial status was really weighing me down. My grades plummeted, and then uh...as difficult as it is for me to admit this, I tried to kill myself during the spring semester.
Basically, I've been suffering from this for awhile. I'm actually still receiving treatment (thanks, private health insurance from work) and am on medication. I'm doing better than I was two years ago, but I occasionally have brief episodes of intense anxiety/anger, depression.
Oh, hell yes. Being undocumented is one reason why yes. It fu[]ng sucks.
Yes, depression and anxiety at my old work place. Now I still get these feelings but it’s just frustration from the limitations I live with daily do to my status.
I have had small periods of anxiety and depression (around high school mostly) but I’ve come to terms with the fact that everything is in God’s hands and I can’t do anything about it. My faith, my husband, my family and my close friends keep me from losing my mind.
I've gotten depressed when I needed to [deaths in the family, unfortunate events] but in general no. I'm a very happy person and appreciative of the things I have. I am honestly sometimes overwhelmed by my happiness as corny as that sounds. When I think of all the wonderful and understanding people in my life that love me i'm like fuck! people love me! that's awesome!
depression. a bit too much. I had one of my worse days yesterdays. I don't publicly show it though and hide it with fake emotions. I just go outside for 5 minutes or get my mind off the subject and then it isn't too bad. Though when I'm not thinking about immigration, I'm pretty happy. Never had another reason for depression.....
I am not qualified to diagnose myself but I think I may have had periods of depression, and I am fairly certain I have the anxiety one. There are times when I think my life is just bleak and I am going to be destined to work some low-paying job because I can’t afford my education. Those times are the worst. The anxiety one, I tend to panic and over-analyze everything which makes me panic even more, and I am jumpy…very very jumpy. My friends find it funny to poke me and watch me jump or shriek, but it’s not pleasant for me. The anxiety one, I think my undocumented status compounded that but I have a memory of some people throwing bangers (little fireworks) right behind me on Christmas/New-Year in Nigeria and that’s the earliest “anxiety” experience I have. The periods of depression are random but something triggers them, whether it is doing horribly on a test or reading about internships or scholarships and just down the line I see “US Citizen/Permanent Residents only”.
I'm bunching up these 2 questions because I feel they go hand in hand with my story. Here's where my story differs from everybody else's (or at least everybody who responded). After I stopped going to college in 2002ish, when I was around 19yrs old, I took it to the extreme! I decided, if the US would not allow me to be the good, smart, intelligent person that I wanted to be (my dream was always to become a doctor)... Then I would be the complete opposite!!! I was pissed at the world, I was pissed at my life! I drank and drank and drank some more, I took up smoking cigarrettes. I smoked weed. I used other drugs. Some nights I never made it home. Every time I thought I hit rock bottom, I managed to sink lower. I started cutting my hand, my arm, my thigh (those scars never leave!). I could care less about my well being. Somehow, I still managed to act normal during the day. I still made it to work every day.. and on time. This lasted for a while (years).. I don't even remember... I think I gradually stopped doing all those dangerous things. I still drink once in a while, and I definitely still smoke cigarettes (please don't ever start because it's impossible to quit!). I can definitely pin my status as being the trigger for these behaviors. Had I been allowed to continue with my education, I bet I wouldn't even be able to tell you what alcohol tasted like. No one in my family drank or smoked or used drugs. I guess if I think back to try and figure out why I did what i did... I'd say that I was tired of being a nobody. I realized, illegal or not, I'm going to die one day just like everybody else and since I can't do what I really want to do with my life, I might as well do something else because I only get one life and I'm not just going to sit at home and watch life pass me by.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#8
04-09-2013, 05:40 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
12. Did you qualify for DACA? How has qualifying or not qualifying affected your future outlook and future plans?
I did qualify for DACA, It has affected me in that I have a lot to fix in my life and I have to play catch up with a lot of goals I had as a child
Yes. Well.. with a work permit I was able to get an above-average paying job. That was my future outlook before and now that I'm here, I'm not sure where to go further? I guess now I'm saving up for a car and thinking of what I'll spend my money on.
Yes and I have already been approved too! It was probably the best day ever when I found out about DACA although at first I didn't believe it. I'm still in shock. I feel like a little girl excited for Christmas. DACA has brought back most of my self-confidence. I have noticed how I'm more open and talkative like I use to be before HS graduation. I feel like all my goals will finally be achieved! I'm excited to get started it's such an incredible feeling. :')
yes, I do qualify for DACA. I have just started the process of recovering the documents that I need and hope to apply as soon as possible.
Yes. I have so many plans in my life, i want to go back to school.
I have been waiting for the DREAM Act for a VERY long time. The passing of DACA was a miracle for me and it has brought much light to my future outlook and plans. I am currently incredibly worried though because I’ve been waiting over 6 months and I still have not been approved. I don’t know what I will do if I am denied.
Yes, I have been approved for DACA. I am very thankful, but unfortunately my disorder is prohibiting me from moving on with my life. I thought that my life was going to change very much after DACA in a good way, but it has been difficult for me so far to adjust to this new life and opportunities. I am stuck at the same job that I was doing before DACA which doesn't pay much. I have been seeing friends more and slowly trying to be more social and do things I have always been afraid to do or never was able to do before DACA.
yes. now everything is much better. i can actually get a job now
I was planning on returning to Mexico after graduating high school, but DACA came along. I know plan on attending an actual 4-year university (U of I at Urbana-Champaign) after graduating this June. I can only say it's totally changed my life.
Yes. It has hugely affected my outlook in a positive way by tearing down limitations that were in the way before (travel, etc).
I do qualify. Just applied early February. I'm happy about this opportunity but I know there are better things to come!
Yes, I qualified and was approved sometime in November. I was more confident about being able to continue my job, for which I am now getting a decent salary and benefits.
Yep, qualified. My future is brighter than the sun.
Qualified for DACA and applied (still waiting) I am certain that the moment I finally hold that golden ticket in my hands the tears of joy will be enough to provide water to a small third world country. =0) Driving and finally being able to pay in state tuition is, well, there are just no words to express the feeling of my heart doing cartwheels!
Yes, I applied the first day it came out and still waiting for approval. It has definitely broadened my future outlook. I can’t wait to be able to get a new job and finish school.
Yes. It turned my life upside down. This time last year I was like wtf am I gonna do after I graduate? Now it's like my life is playing out how it should. It's weird.
"Yes. It turned my life upside down." (quote from another in this thread) It's a huge step, but I want more progress. Don't we all though?
Yes I did qualify for DACA and I got it. It was such a huge moment for me. I could not afford a lawyer so I had to read the requirements by myself and fill out the paperwork. I remember getting the first text that my package had been received; I jumped and let out a little yelp in my physics class. The smile on that day and the next days almost broke my face. And when it came time for the payment fee to go through, my school had gone in to take their payment plan fee and boy was I terrified that I would not be able to pay for DACA. Silly me had written a check instead of mailing a money order. The benefactors in my life (my teachers from high school) donated the money to cover the DACA fee and my account (a grand total). I was just so so overjoyed. I waited in that line at the MVA, glad to get my ID. It was just spectacular. The periods of depression have decreased. I’m now more worried about where to transfer but I am so confident in myself and my ability to be “illegally legal”. I can get a proper job, I don’t have to show my passport at places, I can breathe easily, I don’t have to keep lying to people, I can get in-county tuition, and I can actually plan for my future. It has been amazing. Having DACA has certainly, certainly affected my future outlook. I actually have a proper job now, and my pay is above minimum wage!!! I just feel so lucky and fortunate.
Yes I qualified and I got accepted. I was able to get a REAL driver's license (I almost cried!) It was so easy! It's funny how 1 little tiny piece of paper, how a 9 digit number can make such a HUGE difference in your life. Since I got accepted, I've gone back to school. Believe it or not, just being in a classroom gives me such great joy... I can't even describe it.. I guess learning is my passion.
13. Before DACA, were you open about your undocumented status? How about after DACA?
I wasnt open about my undocument status much to my friends I told them now but they don't seem to mind
I told two girlfriends when I was 18-19 about it and then one other person. Regretted it every time. One friend (herself an illegal) was able to deduce the signs and asked me about it. Told a few online friends, but that's it -- never more. I don't think I'll tell anyone about it ever.
Not really. I told 2 close friends in high school but only when they told me first. The first time I told someone was this woman that was in charge of volunteers of this organization I now volunteer for. She said she needed to see my DL/SSN. That's when I told her all shaky that I didn't have either. She asked why? but then quickly understood what I meant. The second person I told was another volunteer cordinator. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to volunteer because of some rule I had read and I told her and she said everything was OK.
But before she told me that I told a friend I met at community college. I told her because she was very nice and we did a project together about modern day slavery. She wanted the topic to be the dream act but I just wouldn't have been able to take the pressure and views of others. I didn't tell her until after the project was done. She was very supportive and well I expected her to be since she told me she supported it. lol After DACA I told a bunch of people because I was super excited. Now I think maybe I shouldn't have told that many so now I keep it to myself. lol
I generally don’t go around telling people of my legal status. The only ones that know are family and a very select group of friends and acquaintances.
Only with close friends. I still remain the same I don't think I need to say anything.
No, I was not open about it. Very few of my very close friends know about it. Even after DACA I am still on the fence about letting other people know. I don’t think I’ll ever be open to it unless I am a citizen.
Before DACA I was mostly not open about my status. I did tell very few close friends and significant others about it. I kept it from almost everyone I knew and was very embarrassed by it. I completely avoided situations where there was even a slight chance that I would get ID'd. After DACA, I still do not feel comfortable coming out if I do not have to, but if someone were to ask me about my status, I may be honest and tell them that I do not have a green card/citizenship but am allowed to work and live here.
No. a little only bc im on my way of doing well
Nope. I still haven't told any of my friends, even though I know most of these people since we were 11. It's too shameful for me to admit I "jumped the border". I know shame is a terrible thing, but I don't see the necessity in telling them. However, I will have to be open to the admission people in my university, since there's no way around that.
Yes, and yes
Yes, I'm very open about my status. Everyone of my friends and even my employers knew/know about my status. It's a lot easier for me to be open that way I don't have to lie and keep making up excuses. Everyone has always been very understanding and they know, like we all know, that we didn't do anything wrong. Nothing to be ashamed of, we just have to work a lot harder for the same things.
Before: no, and I am still hesitant to come out as undocumented to my closest friends. I know that my current group of friends would be understanding, but I'm still not ready to tell them.
As a source of my depression, I didn't talk about it. However, I did to the right people. After DACA, I'll like to keep it the same. However, now DACA gives me that extra bit of confidence.
Only people who have known me for years and my family know. My current employer knows, but it is not something I discuss with coworkers or anyone else. If you know it’s because you have to know. After DACA it will remain the same. Though I suspect that since I will finally drive and be in school, the subject will not come up as often. (Thank God!)
I was only open to my close friends about it before and I don’t think anything much as changed
As I mentioned, I was with close friends. Now I am more open but still cautious. I won't discuss it unless it comes up.
no. still don't
I was open if I needed to. I told my guidance counselor and eventually I told my godmother (and she was upset that I told her too late because she wanted to adopt me). I told my friends and they were awesome about it and my boyfriend knows about it. After DACA, I am a bit more open about my status but it is still as-needed. I helped campaign for DACA at my college so I’m okay with putting myself out there. When talking to high school students I certainly do because if someone had said they were in my shoes back then, I would have been so relieved. Now I know others who are in my shoes, one of my best friends is and I have a close friend (who helped me get hired) who also got DACA. I don’t mind being open about my undocumented status if it helps someone or if it gives someone solace that they are not alone.
I was not open about my status before DACA. I'm more open about it now.. but only in this forum... A co-worker of mine found out my status last summer (before DACA) when I stupidly decided to go to a club with her and her friends. My stupid matricula was declined. Not only did it ruin my night, but since they were my ride, I ruined theirs because I had to be taken home.. And it wasn't close by either. For now Obama is the president and I know my DACA will be renewed for at least 2 more years after this one expires so I have about 3 years before I have to start to worry again.
I did qualify for DACA, It has affected me in that I have a lot to fix in my life and I have to play catch up with a lot of goals I had as a child
Yes. Well.. with a work permit I was able to get an above-average paying job. That was my future outlook before and now that I'm here, I'm not sure where to go further? I guess now I'm saving up for a car and thinking of what I'll spend my money on.
Yes and I have already been approved too! It was probably the best day ever when I found out about DACA although at first I didn't believe it. I'm still in shock. I feel like a little girl excited for Christmas. DACA has brought back most of my self-confidence. I have noticed how I'm more open and talkative like I use to be before HS graduation. I feel like all my goals will finally be achieved! I'm excited to get started it's such an incredible feeling. :')
yes, I do qualify for DACA. I have just started the process of recovering the documents that I need and hope to apply as soon as possible.
Yes. I have so many plans in my life, i want to go back to school.
I have been waiting for the DREAM Act for a VERY long time. The passing of DACA was a miracle for me and it has brought much light to my future outlook and plans. I am currently incredibly worried though because I’ve been waiting over 6 months and I still have not been approved. I don’t know what I will do if I am denied.
Yes, I have been approved for DACA. I am very thankful, but unfortunately my disorder is prohibiting me from moving on with my life. I thought that my life was going to change very much after DACA in a good way, but it has been difficult for me so far to adjust to this new life and opportunities. I am stuck at the same job that I was doing before DACA which doesn't pay much. I have been seeing friends more and slowly trying to be more social and do things I have always been afraid to do or never was able to do before DACA.
yes. now everything is much better. i can actually get a job now
I was planning on returning to Mexico after graduating high school, but DACA came along. I know plan on attending an actual 4-year university (U of I at Urbana-Champaign) after graduating this June. I can only say it's totally changed my life.
Yes. It has hugely affected my outlook in a positive way by tearing down limitations that were in the way before (travel, etc).
I do qualify. Just applied early February. I'm happy about this opportunity but I know there are better things to come!
Yes, I qualified and was approved sometime in November. I was more confident about being able to continue my job, for which I am now getting a decent salary and benefits.
Yep, qualified. My future is brighter than the sun.
Qualified for DACA and applied (still waiting) I am certain that the moment I finally hold that golden ticket in my hands the tears of joy will be enough to provide water to a small third world country. =0) Driving and finally being able to pay in state tuition is, well, there are just no words to express the feeling of my heart doing cartwheels!
Yes, I applied the first day it came out and still waiting for approval. It has definitely broadened my future outlook. I can’t wait to be able to get a new job and finish school.
Yes. It turned my life upside down. This time last year I was like wtf am I gonna do after I graduate? Now it's like my life is playing out how it should. It's weird.
"Yes. It turned my life upside down." (quote from another in this thread) It's a huge step, but I want more progress. Don't we all though?
Yes I did qualify for DACA and I got it. It was such a huge moment for me. I could not afford a lawyer so I had to read the requirements by myself and fill out the paperwork. I remember getting the first text that my package had been received; I jumped and let out a little yelp in my physics class. The smile on that day and the next days almost broke my face. And when it came time for the payment fee to go through, my school had gone in to take their payment plan fee and boy was I terrified that I would not be able to pay for DACA. Silly me had written a check instead of mailing a money order. The benefactors in my life (my teachers from high school) donated the money to cover the DACA fee and my account (a grand total). I was just so so overjoyed. I waited in that line at the MVA, glad to get my ID. It was just spectacular. The periods of depression have decreased. I’m now more worried about where to transfer but I am so confident in myself and my ability to be “illegally legal”. I can get a proper job, I don’t have to show my passport at places, I can breathe easily, I don’t have to keep lying to people, I can get in-county tuition, and I can actually plan for my future. It has been amazing. Having DACA has certainly, certainly affected my future outlook. I actually have a proper job now, and my pay is above minimum wage!!! I just feel so lucky and fortunate.
Yes I qualified and I got accepted. I was able to get a REAL driver's license (I almost cried!) It was so easy! It's funny how 1 little tiny piece of paper, how a 9 digit number can make such a HUGE difference in your life. Since I got accepted, I've gone back to school. Believe it or not, just being in a classroom gives me such great joy... I can't even describe it.. I guess learning is my passion.
13. Before DACA, were you open about your undocumented status? How about after DACA?
I wasnt open about my undocument status much to my friends I told them now but they don't seem to mind
I told two girlfriends when I was 18-19 about it and then one other person. Regretted it every time. One friend (herself an illegal) was able to deduce the signs and asked me about it. Told a few online friends, but that's it -- never more. I don't think I'll tell anyone about it ever.
Not really. I told 2 close friends in high school but only when they told me first. The first time I told someone was this woman that was in charge of volunteers of this organization I now volunteer for. She said she needed to see my DL/SSN. That's when I told her all shaky that I didn't have either. She asked why? but then quickly understood what I meant. The second person I told was another volunteer cordinator. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to volunteer because of some rule I had read and I told her and she said everything was OK.
But before she told me that I told a friend I met at community college. I told her because she was very nice and we did a project together about modern day slavery. She wanted the topic to be the dream act but I just wouldn't have been able to take the pressure and views of others. I didn't tell her until after the project was done. She was very supportive and well I expected her to be since she told me she supported it. lol After DACA I told a bunch of people because I was super excited. Now I think maybe I shouldn't have told that many so now I keep it to myself. lol
I generally don’t go around telling people of my legal status. The only ones that know are family and a very select group of friends and acquaintances.
Only with close friends. I still remain the same I don't think I need to say anything.
No, I was not open about it. Very few of my very close friends know about it. Even after DACA I am still on the fence about letting other people know. I don’t think I’ll ever be open to it unless I am a citizen.
Before DACA I was mostly not open about my status. I did tell very few close friends and significant others about it. I kept it from almost everyone I knew and was very embarrassed by it. I completely avoided situations where there was even a slight chance that I would get ID'd. After DACA, I still do not feel comfortable coming out if I do not have to, but if someone were to ask me about my status, I may be honest and tell them that I do not have a green card/citizenship but am allowed to work and live here.
No. a little only bc im on my way of doing well
Nope. I still haven't told any of my friends, even though I know most of these people since we were 11. It's too shameful for me to admit I "jumped the border". I know shame is a terrible thing, but I don't see the necessity in telling them. However, I will have to be open to the admission people in my university, since there's no way around that.
Yes, and yes
Yes, I'm very open about my status. Everyone of my friends and even my employers knew/know about my status. It's a lot easier for me to be open that way I don't have to lie and keep making up excuses. Everyone has always been very understanding and they know, like we all know, that we didn't do anything wrong. Nothing to be ashamed of, we just have to work a lot harder for the same things.
Before: no, and I am still hesitant to come out as undocumented to my closest friends. I know that my current group of friends would be understanding, but I'm still not ready to tell them.
As a source of my depression, I didn't talk about it. However, I did to the right people. After DACA, I'll like to keep it the same. However, now DACA gives me that extra bit of confidence.
Only people who have known me for years and my family know. My current employer knows, but it is not something I discuss with coworkers or anyone else. If you know it’s because you have to know. After DACA it will remain the same. Though I suspect that since I will finally drive and be in school, the subject will not come up as often. (Thank God!)
I was only open to my close friends about it before and I don’t think anything much as changed
As I mentioned, I was with close friends. Now I am more open but still cautious. I won't discuss it unless it comes up.
no. still don't
I was open if I needed to. I told my guidance counselor and eventually I told my godmother (and she was upset that I told her too late because she wanted to adopt me). I told my friends and they were awesome about it and my boyfriend knows about it. After DACA, I am a bit more open about my status but it is still as-needed. I helped campaign for DACA at my college so I’m okay with putting myself out there. When talking to high school students I certainly do because if someone had said they were in my shoes back then, I would have been so relieved. Now I know others who are in my shoes, one of my best friends is and I have a close friend (who helped me get hired) who also got DACA. I don’t mind being open about my undocumented status if it helps someone or if it gives someone solace that they are not alone.
I was not open about my status before DACA. I'm more open about it now.. but only in this forum... A co-worker of mine found out my status last summer (before DACA) when I stupidly decided to go to a club with her and her friends. My stupid matricula was declined. Not only did it ruin my night, but since they were my ride, I ruined theirs because I had to be taken home.. And it wasn't close by either. For now Obama is the president and I know my DACA will be renewed for at least 2 more years after this one expires so I have about 3 years before I have to start to worry again.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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#9
04-09-2013, 05:41 PM
Senior Member
Joined in Apr 2012
661 posts
14. What other obstacles and limitations have you faced? How do you think your undocumented status affected your development?
I've engaged in a lot of self-repression and self-loathing. I've used so many different excuses and explanations as to why I don't want to go to a bar or go to the beach or do something that requires money or an ID or something that I've successfully convinced myself that I don't actually want to do those things. Even though now I have an ID and spending money, I still haven't been out to a single bar... Unfortunately I think it may take a while for me to get over that.
As a result, I feel stunted in my growth as an adult and as a person. I feel like I'm still 17 because that's when I went into a kind of a low-powered stand-by state while waiting for my status to change so that I could get out and do age appropriate things. Now that I'm in my mid 20s, it feels like I missed out on a lot formative experience that I'm never going to have a chance to experience. I really have no words to express this kind of feeling -- some sort of a nostalgia for things that never were or ever will be?
I think being undocumented has taught me to value what truly matters in life more. It's taught me to understand what it's like to be at the very bottom, and feel fear and frustration for a real problem. It's taught me patience and most importantly to be hopeful. Because even though sometimes I felt like given up I never did. There was always that little voice that told me everything I was doing was going to pay off one day and I truly hope it does.
I think my Status has definitely affected my development. Many people who are my age have descent paying jobs or careers and a lot of them are even married. I feel like I am falling behind a lot of my peers because I am still in school and single.
Not being able to travel with and not being able to move out on my own.
I think the most of the obstacles and limitations have been in regards to my being able to go out and try new things. I like to think that I’m an adventurous person and I love the idea of traveling in the states and around the world. But I’ve never done it because of fear. Development wise I think it kept me a shy person and it has made me a bit antisocial.
Being undocumented mainly affected me socially. Although I do wish I could have had a “normal life” where I attended college and had a normal job where I was making a normal amount of money, it did not affect me as much as others that I did not have a lot of money/job/education. It would make me feel awkward from time to time when people would ask me about school and jobs, but I just brushed it off as I was one of those people that didn’t want to go to school. The reasons why I did not go to college are because of my social anxiety and because my family and I could not afford it.
I believe it was always there, but being undocumented triggered social anxiety to come out more. Now that I am capable of having a normal job and normal social life, I am too scared to get out in the world and apply for a job and meet new people. My social anxiety is pretty severe because I feel like I can’t go through with a successful interview and job. I cannot even bring myself to ask for a job or application. I also often have nightmares where I am back in school and have a presentation that I have to do. I feel that I cannot and will not be put in these situations and that is very unusual for a normal person. Luckily, I have a few friends that I do spend time with from time to time. I mostly feel more comfortable with staying home and often choose this over leaving the house and seeing anyone. I avoid situations where it requires me to meet multiple people because I feel very anxious and awkward in those types of situations. My social anxiety really came out after my DL expired when I was 22. In high school and in my early 20’s, I was much more social and fearless. I went out with friends often when I could and met a lot of new people often. I was shy, but wasn’t as scared as I am today.
I think that if being undocumented was not an issue and if I was able to go to college and started working as a teenager, that my social anxiety would not be as severe as it is today. Thanks for listening/reading. I never really told too many people details about this before, but always wanted to
right now? discrimination bc of my 2 yr work permit. i had many lost job opportunities such as Merrill Lynch and JPM, Morgan Stanley internships
I feel like DACA came along early for me, and the only things that my undocumented status have prevented me from doing were driving and getting a job (a low-wage one, since I would still be a high school student).
The basic limitations every DREAMer faces. It's an uphill battle from the start. Because of this, I've learned to be incredibly patient, but still highly motivated and ambitious.
It is obviously harder to do everything. I eventually had to drive, even though I don't have a license. It's out of necessity and they hand those out to really bad drivers anyway. I follow the law and not worry at all. It's hard to own things under your name, such a house or car. It sucked to carry my passport around to get into bars all the time. Or to prove to banks or schools my identity or other info when others just have to flash their driver's license to them. Then again all of these things are just a pain, but not impossible.
I wasn't able to drive nor was I able to enter a bar until recently. At least, I never felt comfortable using my passport for that... And this is really stupid, but I'm glad I can watch rated R movies without worrying about whipping out my passport.
I always wanted, for the longest time, wanted to live like everyone else. But, being undocumented stunned me in every way. Can't drive, if I do, I better be really good. Can't work part time at store. It's either full time school, or a full-time job. I alienated myself from the world because of that. Now I'm sitting here at 3:40 in the morning, wondering what could've been. Can't do anything about it now. Not no more.
It has affected my entire life, every single part. It is something that is present every day. There isn’t one day I can “forget” where I stand. Even if I tried someone will surely ask a question or make a comment which will bring me back to reality. People are nosey as hell! I know that compared to others I’ve been so blessed, but my life can never be what it could have been if I were here legally. I will never give up on my dreams but the 10+ years that have been taken from me; no one can give them back. No one will ever erase the situations, comments, and consequences I have had to face. I will forever be marked by this, but it will not be the only mark I carry. I will gather the stones that were thrown at me and I will build myself a path to my dreams. This has only made me more driven and determined. Whether I like it or not, it is part of who I am and it will always be there to help shape who I will become.
I think it has affected my adult life as a whole. I know that would’ve been somewhere different in my life if I were legal. I also know that I probably wouldn’t be as strong as I am if I hadn’t go through everything that I have. You live your life hiding and not getting too involved in anything. I hate it but I know my time will come and it’ll be a great day when it does.
As soon as I knew about my status, I paid more attention to what people said. I would hear people hate on illegal immigrants and say how we're this and that. That made me angry and also made me want to go against those misconceptions. I've had multiple friends be in disbelief when I tell them about my situation. People have such a fucked up perception about what illegal immigrants are like.
"As soon as I knew about my status, I paid more attention to what people said. I would hear people hate on illegal immigrants and say how we're this and that. That made me angry and also made me want to go against those misconceptions." "People have such a fucked up perception about what illegal immigrants are like."' exactly that (also another quote from this thread). It's bad in my case because people don't know that I'm an undocumented immigrant, let an immigrant at all. Maybe if more people opposing immigration reform knew about those everyday "Americans" who are actually undocumented, they wouldn't jump to the conclusion that every illegal alien is a Mexican who jumped over the border and began multiplying like rabbits just to live the lazy life off of government aid. What an extreme stereotype.
None after getting DACA. My status definitely shaped me. It impacted every single fiber of my being. It made me humble and to respect jobs. I definitely respect all workers, from the janitor to the cashier at McDonalds to surgeons and lawyers, I respect them all. It has taught me to work even harder and to see the big picture. I have had so much work experience that I now know not to fret about grades so much. Honestly, people want to see that degree. And just because I am not wanted at one place does not mean I should give up. The many jobs I have had have helped keep my weight steady—I can’t be spending money willy-nilly buying clothes. It has taught me to be resourceful and be thorough and to keep my word.
Because of being undocumented I know my way around the Metro and public transportation. I became independent. I learned to make do with what I have and value the people I have in my life. I learned to live life and not fear death. I learned to be grateful and happy and to be a kid again, something I did not get to do while I was a kid. Most importantly, I learned to laugh. I laugh at things that are supposed to make me angry and I laugh at the funny moments. I learned to play futbol and not just enjoy it. I learned to bake and to ride a bike and to swim. I learned to have a life and balance work, life and fun. I learned to become an adult.
Besides my major depression phase and the other usual limitations we all face, I think my development is completely messed up. I'm almost 3o and I've never had a serious relationship!!! That's just sad. I don't feel worthy enough to be with anyone else. Friends and family around me are already married and have children. Most are younger than me. I feel like my major goals in life were go to school, get married, and have kids. Maybe since I haven't completed my schooling, I'm stuck in that "phase". But then again, I just don't feel worthy of having anyone love me. It's like as soon as I see a guy, my first automatic thought is there is no way he'd ever want anything with me. So here I am.. lonely... and stuck... I feel like I haven't moved on since high school... I'm just stuck...
15. Additional comments:
I thought about moving to Mexican many, many times but I never did because I knew that if the DREAM Act passed I would be excluded. If you have anymore questions just send me a PM.
Lol, I know I wasn't much help, since I'm still not too exposed to the world as many of these Dreamers are. But I felt it was good to let my thoughts flow on this survey. Thank you.
Also, I took AP Psychology last semester. We had the coolest teacher ever. Sometimes I felt as if he was just some 17-year-old talking to his friends instead of a 40-something-year-old talking to his AP class. That actually got me interested in maybe doing psych in college (since I'm still undeclared). I wish you the best of luck in your studies
We have it hard, but we always have to remember that there are people that have it worst. Someone out there is saying " damn, those lucky bitches"
This is the first time I've opened up about my mental health issues and the impact being undocumented has had on my life. I was debating whether I should post this under this account, but I decided it was time to be open about what I've gone through. Hope this helps you in your survey!
One of my favorite phrases, which now understand the meaning of:
"You cannot achieve success if you fear failure. If you are not afraid to fail, man, you have a chance to succeed. But you are never going to get there, unless you risk it all the way."
Hope this helps and good luck!
There's 2 number 6's just so u know
good luck on your project and sorry about the cursing! I have a potty mouth :P
Thanks for doing this Q&A. Hopefully it helps someone understand us as a group. This actually got me thinking, “maybe I should write a book?” lol
17. How do you identify yourself ethnically? Why? Example; if you were born in Mexico, do you call yourself Mexican or Mexican American..
I identify myself as a human being, a Nigerian at heart and a full-blooded Yoruba woman. I was born in Nigeria, I still have memories of the place both good and bad. I am of the Yoruba people in Nigeria and my name reflects that (Motunrayo – I see joy again, which has been my life pretty much).
I identify myself as Mexican because I am not allowed to identify myself as American. Although I only lived in Mexico my 2 first years of life. The only Spanish I speak and the only Spanish customs I know have been taught to me by my parents. I'm sure Mexicans don't consider me Mexican but Americans don't consider me American either.
I've engaged in a lot of self-repression and self-loathing. I've used so many different excuses and explanations as to why I don't want to go to a bar or go to the beach or do something that requires money or an ID or something that I've successfully convinced myself that I don't actually want to do those things. Even though now I have an ID and spending money, I still haven't been out to a single bar... Unfortunately I think it may take a while for me to get over that.
As a result, I feel stunted in my growth as an adult and as a person. I feel like I'm still 17 because that's when I went into a kind of a low-powered stand-by state while waiting for my status to change so that I could get out and do age appropriate things. Now that I'm in my mid 20s, it feels like I missed out on a lot formative experience that I'm never going to have a chance to experience. I really have no words to express this kind of feeling -- some sort of a nostalgia for things that never were or ever will be?
I think being undocumented has taught me to value what truly matters in life more. It's taught me to understand what it's like to be at the very bottom, and feel fear and frustration for a real problem. It's taught me patience and most importantly to be hopeful. Because even though sometimes I felt like given up I never did. There was always that little voice that told me everything I was doing was going to pay off one day and I truly hope it does.
I think my Status has definitely affected my development. Many people who are my age have descent paying jobs or careers and a lot of them are even married. I feel like I am falling behind a lot of my peers because I am still in school and single.
Not being able to travel with and not being able to move out on my own.
I think the most of the obstacles and limitations have been in regards to my being able to go out and try new things. I like to think that I’m an adventurous person and I love the idea of traveling in the states and around the world. But I’ve never done it because of fear. Development wise I think it kept me a shy person and it has made me a bit antisocial.
Being undocumented mainly affected me socially. Although I do wish I could have had a “normal life” where I attended college and had a normal job where I was making a normal amount of money, it did not affect me as much as others that I did not have a lot of money/job/education. It would make me feel awkward from time to time when people would ask me about school and jobs, but I just brushed it off as I was one of those people that didn’t want to go to school. The reasons why I did not go to college are because of my social anxiety and because my family and I could not afford it.
I believe it was always there, but being undocumented triggered social anxiety to come out more. Now that I am capable of having a normal job and normal social life, I am too scared to get out in the world and apply for a job and meet new people. My social anxiety is pretty severe because I feel like I can’t go through with a successful interview and job. I cannot even bring myself to ask for a job or application. I also often have nightmares where I am back in school and have a presentation that I have to do. I feel that I cannot and will not be put in these situations and that is very unusual for a normal person. Luckily, I have a few friends that I do spend time with from time to time. I mostly feel more comfortable with staying home and often choose this over leaving the house and seeing anyone. I avoid situations where it requires me to meet multiple people because I feel very anxious and awkward in those types of situations. My social anxiety really came out after my DL expired when I was 22. In high school and in my early 20’s, I was much more social and fearless. I went out with friends often when I could and met a lot of new people often. I was shy, but wasn’t as scared as I am today.
I think that if being undocumented was not an issue and if I was able to go to college and started working as a teenager, that my social anxiety would not be as severe as it is today. Thanks for listening/reading. I never really told too many people details about this before, but always wanted to
right now? discrimination bc of my 2 yr work permit. i had many lost job opportunities such as Merrill Lynch and JPM, Morgan Stanley internships
I feel like DACA came along early for me, and the only things that my undocumented status have prevented me from doing were driving and getting a job (a low-wage one, since I would still be a high school student).
The basic limitations every DREAMer faces. It's an uphill battle from the start. Because of this, I've learned to be incredibly patient, but still highly motivated and ambitious.
It is obviously harder to do everything. I eventually had to drive, even though I don't have a license. It's out of necessity and they hand those out to really bad drivers anyway. I follow the law and not worry at all. It's hard to own things under your name, such a house or car. It sucked to carry my passport around to get into bars all the time. Or to prove to banks or schools my identity or other info when others just have to flash their driver's license to them. Then again all of these things are just a pain, but not impossible.
I wasn't able to drive nor was I able to enter a bar until recently. At least, I never felt comfortable using my passport for that... And this is really stupid, but I'm glad I can watch rated R movies without worrying about whipping out my passport.
I always wanted, for the longest time, wanted to live like everyone else. But, being undocumented stunned me in every way. Can't drive, if I do, I better be really good. Can't work part time at store. It's either full time school, or a full-time job. I alienated myself from the world because of that. Now I'm sitting here at 3:40 in the morning, wondering what could've been. Can't do anything about it now. Not no more.
It has affected my entire life, every single part. It is something that is present every day. There isn’t one day I can “forget” where I stand. Even if I tried someone will surely ask a question or make a comment which will bring me back to reality. People are nosey as hell! I know that compared to others I’ve been so blessed, but my life can never be what it could have been if I were here legally. I will never give up on my dreams but the 10+ years that have been taken from me; no one can give them back. No one will ever erase the situations, comments, and consequences I have had to face. I will forever be marked by this, but it will not be the only mark I carry. I will gather the stones that were thrown at me and I will build myself a path to my dreams. This has only made me more driven and determined. Whether I like it or not, it is part of who I am and it will always be there to help shape who I will become.
I think it has affected my adult life as a whole. I know that would’ve been somewhere different in my life if I were legal. I also know that I probably wouldn’t be as strong as I am if I hadn’t go through everything that I have. You live your life hiding and not getting too involved in anything. I hate it but I know my time will come and it’ll be a great day when it does.
As soon as I knew about my status, I paid more attention to what people said. I would hear people hate on illegal immigrants and say how we're this and that. That made me angry and also made me want to go against those misconceptions. I've had multiple friends be in disbelief when I tell them about my situation. People have such a fucked up perception about what illegal immigrants are like.
"As soon as I knew about my status, I paid more attention to what people said. I would hear people hate on illegal immigrants and say how we're this and that. That made me angry and also made me want to go against those misconceptions." "People have such a fucked up perception about what illegal immigrants are like."' exactly that (also another quote from this thread). It's bad in my case because people don't know that I'm an undocumented immigrant, let an immigrant at all. Maybe if more people opposing immigration reform knew about those everyday "Americans" who are actually undocumented, they wouldn't jump to the conclusion that every illegal alien is a Mexican who jumped over the border and began multiplying like rabbits just to live the lazy life off of government aid. What an extreme stereotype.
None after getting DACA. My status definitely shaped me. It impacted every single fiber of my being. It made me humble and to respect jobs. I definitely respect all workers, from the janitor to the cashier at McDonalds to surgeons and lawyers, I respect them all. It has taught me to work even harder and to see the big picture. I have had so much work experience that I now know not to fret about grades so much. Honestly, people want to see that degree. And just because I am not wanted at one place does not mean I should give up. The many jobs I have had have helped keep my weight steady—I can’t be spending money willy-nilly buying clothes. It has taught me to be resourceful and be thorough and to keep my word.
Because of being undocumented I know my way around the Metro and public transportation. I became independent. I learned to make do with what I have and value the people I have in my life. I learned to live life and not fear death. I learned to be grateful and happy and to be a kid again, something I did not get to do while I was a kid. Most importantly, I learned to laugh. I laugh at things that are supposed to make me angry and I laugh at the funny moments. I learned to play futbol and not just enjoy it. I learned to bake and to ride a bike and to swim. I learned to have a life and balance work, life and fun. I learned to become an adult.
Besides my major depression phase and the other usual limitations we all face, I think my development is completely messed up. I'm almost 3o and I've never had a serious relationship!!! That's just sad. I don't feel worthy enough to be with anyone else. Friends and family around me are already married and have children. Most are younger than me. I feel like my major goals in life were go to school, get married, and have kids. Maybe since I haven't completed my schooling, I'm stuck in that "phase". But then again, I just don't feel worthy of having anyone love me. It's like as soon as I see a guy, my first automatic thought is there is no way he'd ever want anything with me. So here I am.. lonely... and stuck... I feel like I haven't moved on since high school... I'm just stuck...
15. Additional comments:
I thought about moving to Mexican many, many times but I never did because I knew that if the DREAM Act passed I would be excluded. If you have anymore questions just send me a PM.
Lol, I know I wasn't much help, since I'm still not too exposed to the world as many of these Dreamers are. But I felt it was good to let my thoughts flow on this survey. Thank you.
Also, I took AP Psychology last semester. We had the coolest teacher ever. Sometimes I felt as if he was just some 17-year-old talking to his friends instead of a 40-something-year-old talking to his AP class. That actually got me interested in maybe doing psych in college (since I'm still undeclared). I wish you the best of luck in your studies
We have it hard, but we always have to remember that there are people that have it worst. Someone out there is saying " damn, those lucky bitches"
This is the first time I've opened up about my mental health issues and the impact being undocumented has had on my life. I was debating whether I should post this under this account, but I decided it was time to be open about what I've gone through. Hope this helps you in your survey!
One of my favorite phrases, which now understand the meaning of:
"You cannot achieve success if you fear failure. If you are not afraid to fail, man, you have a chance to succeed. But you are never going to get there, unless you risk it all the way."
Hope this helps and good luck!
There's 2 number 6's just so u know
good luck on your project and sorry about the cursing! I have a potty mouth :P
Thanks for doing this Q&A. Hopefully it helps someone understand us as a group. This actually got me thinking, “maybe I should write a book?” lol
17. How do you identify yourself ethnically? Why? Example; if you were born in Mexico, do you call yourself Mexican or Mexican American..
I identify myself as a human being, a Nigerian at heart and a full-blooded Yoruba woman. I was born in Nigeria, I still have memories of the place both good and bad. I am of the Yoruba people in Nigeria and my name reflects that (Motunrayo – I see joy again, which has been my life pretty much).
I identify myself as Mexican because I am not allowed to identify myself as American. Although I only lived in Mexico my 2 first years of life. The only Spanish I speak and the only Spanish customs I know have been taught to me by my parents. I'm sure Mexicans don't consider me Mexican but Americans don't consider me American either.
__________________
Application Sent - 08/25/12 to Chicago Lockbox via USPS Priority | Application Arrived - 8/28/12 | Text/Email Notification - 8/31/12 @5:18 (Routed to Texas) | I-797C - 9/4/12 | Bio letter 9/10 Bio sched - 9/20 @ 1pm (no walk-in!) | EAD apprvd - 10/10/12 | 821D apprvd - 10/11/12 | EAD arrived 10/15/12 | SS#app - 10/16/12 | SS delvrd- 10/22/12 | IL DL - 10/24/12 issued for 5 year
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