Here alone with no family only a dream

Hello everyone,

I have been *lurking* this site for a few months now. I wanted to share a story that's a bit different from normal.

I moved to this country when I was 14 years and 11 months old. I left my four siblings, mother and step father behind to move to America for a better life. My mother's intentions were for me to live here with my biological father. After moving to the United States, my father registered me into high school. Life was fine until my Junior year when I learned I would not be able to attend college because I was an alien. My father was not a legal resident at that time. It was hard for me to accept that, I was angry with him because I felt that he mislead me and my family into thinking everything will be fine. Eventually I became extremely depressed by my situation, lost interest in school that lead to me dropping out. When my father did become legal I was out of age. It was too late for him to file for me and furthermore his name was not on my birth certificate.

A year later after leaving school, I tried to get my GED that became difficult too because I had no state ID, no passport from my country of origin either. ( Let me add that in the Bahamas if you are born to foreign parents then you are not a citizen of their country. I hated that....we were "aliens" in the only country we knew. I had to get out of there. My future there was limited also.)

So for years I wondered around America aimlessly with no sense of direction. I have lost contact with my father and all immediate relatives that lived in this country. I am alone.

In 2005 a year after moving to NYC from Florida I received my GED. I was able to get a passport from my parents country of origin....Haiti. It was a mere victory for me because I had absolutely nothing for 7 years. Now I was able to fly domestically, enter buildings that I needed I.D, get community health care and other basic stuff.

I was homeless at one point and kept my head up. I stayed out of trouble no run ins with the law at all. In a way I feel like I have wasted 11 years of my life. Then again I think about all the amazing people I have met through out these years. Those that sympathized with my situation and helped me the best way they could. Also the life experience I gained living here, I take as a blessing for not another in my family will see what I have seen nor experience what I experienced.

The DREAM ACT would be beneficial to all of us that want to better their lives. In a sense I envy those that live with their families and get to see them everyday. Also those that had the opportunity to attend college and further their education. I am not so lucky. I always wanted to go to college but being a alien here with no family to help me is difficult. Also I refuse under any circumstance to marry for legalization. I felt in some way I would be selling my soul.

My dream is simple....to be free. I want a good college education and the freedom to be the best I can be. I want to be able to go to auditions without being restricted. Ever since I was 3 years old I wanted to act on film. The great sadness it is that I can't hope on a train, audition for a role and hope for the best. It is depressing! At this moment, at 25 years old, I feel stuck. There is a big wall blocking my dreams and the only way to get over it is for this act to pass.

I am happy to have found a place where I can share my story. All our stories may be different but our dreams are the same. We dream to be free.

Remarkeable story. Welcome to the site!

Thank you for sharing your story with us, welcome to dap!!!!

beautiful story sweetheart... reading these things just gets me upset... if in life, we do try to achieve something; we truly deserve to have it. some take for granted many things... they are fortunate to be born in this country; yet they act like they did anything themselves. the strength of an individual is measured by the obstacles they overcome.

life has thrown you allot.. im very proud of you that you made it through... welcome to DAP

reading your story gets me sad...cuz I know many chicano loser gangbangers that have all the oppotunities in the world to get ahead but rather act like some ghetto rappers.

like my friend said...when you in jail you act and hang out with your own race puto!! jajaja and thats's where these loser end up....and that's one less vote for hispanics...sad but true!!

I agree with each one of you. My story is very depressing. When ever I am asked about anything pertaining to my status I start to cry. Thank you for the kind words. The day will come.

Feel free to bug me. Talk to me anytime.

I'm not reading all that, but welcome to DAP

I really admire your determination and resilience, and the fact that you finally got your GED. I know how hard it must be to not have family here. You should know that you have friends and support here. Wishing you the best for now.

You have such an inspiring story, and for some reason I feel like you've been here for a long time. Welcome :]