I can't relate to most "Dreamers" in the media.

Living in fear has gotten worse for me to be honest. One day I can be very optimistic and feel like I can take on the world and suddenly without any warning something triggers my fears again and I get deeply depressed.

To be quite candid. The Dream act is not only for over "achievers" that are represented whenever this bill comes up in the media. Besides the fact that most "dreamers" that are written about seem to be Latino or Asians. Stories that are nothing like mine at all.

I am an "under achiever". I cannot relate to all the great stories I hear/read about undocumented students that graduated high school with a 4.5 g.p.a. I never knew it was possible to get anything higher than a 4.0. These dreamers often attend good colleges, win scholarships and receive impressive degrees. I only have a GED and always wanted to go to college. Never knew it was possible.

Most "dreamers" seem to have a supportive family to help them get through these hard times. My family neglected to raise me and I have been on my own for quite some time now. Disenfranchised. Illegal. and Homeless. My story is depressing. I wish just one time I could read a story where it expresses just how much the Dream Act can save a life, a life like mine.

My status has caused great infliction in my life. Sometimes I wish someone could have told me when I was younger just how much of a sacrifice it is to live in America. Life of an illegal alien girl is rough. The dream act is my only hope. I am tired of being taken advantage of because of my status.

I wish I could express just how bad things are for me right now. I am scared ICE will bust where I sleep any minute now. I am forced to live with people that do not have my best interest at hand in a dingy apartment with addicts and people that have no positivity in their future. Everyday I say..."if only I was legal". All of this would go away. I don't want to be caught in the middle of anything that I have no control over.

My fear and depression gets worse when I start to think about enforcement. If I was to be apprehended and held because of my status, I have a strong feeling I would get deported. To a country I have no knowledge of. No one to fight for me. I don't know what to do. No one to turn to.

Whenever I read an article advocating just how much this law is needed. Deep down inside I feel that it was not written for a person like me. Though I would qualify and it would change my life and turn it around in a complete 360.

Are there any dreamers out there like me? I can think of a few but no one talks about us

Im sorry that you feel alone, rest assured you're not. Im sorry that you havent had the support you've needed but i definitely think the people here will all help guide you. Just keep your spirits up and everything will turn out well for you. Just keep moving forward.

Hey, I know you live near me, so if you need anything, feel free to contact me on MSN.

I'm sure you're not the only one who feels this way. I think Dreamers in the media are just trying to put out "the best" of us for good publicity, you know? It's important to give out a very positive image of who Dreamers are in order to convince people that: yes, we are illegal but we deserve a chance at being naturalized. That doesn't mean you're undeserving. It just means that the "underachievers" will essentially benefit from what the "overachievers" are doing because we're all in the same situation. It doesn't really matter what grades you get as long as you fulfill the two year requirement for college or military. In the end, Dream is open to people with low and high GPAs, ivy league education or community college. Don't beat yourself up over it. Just stay optimistic and do what you can, or find a new path in life.

Thespian, welcome to DAP. First and foremost, I am sorry to hear about your difficulties. But let me assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Truth be told, it has been a while since I’ve read literature related to the dream act. However, I know that you don’t need a 4.0 GPA to qualify. As a matter a fact, there are alternative avenues, other than education, that you can take to get the green card once the dream act becomes a reality. So, believe me when I say that the dream act is not just for over achievers.

Now there are many of us like you who were not always over achievers. I graduated from home studies and I was a horrible high school students. Shit, I failed the 9th grade. I was also depressed as hell and was constantly getting high on E and other shit. I also became extremely depressed. But, I decided to go to one of those free clinics and get psychological help. Once I got better, I started the community college and began to excel far beyond my expectations. Now school wasn’t free, I had to work full-time to pay for my classes. It was hard work, most good things are. You just have to start somewhere and with the help of others; if you have no one, community programs can often times be helpful and they don’t ask for documentation. Keep your spirit high and work as hard as you possibly can, and you will succeed.

I'm not an overachiever either. But you just have to be positive even though everything seems like it's going down. I've heard so much negativity even from counselors in my school. Makes me want to quit. But I won't give up, I'll prove all of them wrong one day. So have hope.

Fish is right of course, but I know how you feel, girl. I never felt I had to plan for or achieve anything extraordinary until I found out I was undocumented. I guess one benefit of being undoc'd is that it might've forced us to think about what we consider important and what we really want out of education, life, etc.
But anyway, you're not alone in not having a supportive family or the opportunity to go to school. I have my mom but we're effectively homeless as well and rely on friends' good wills to not kick us out of their homes while we scramble around for work. I'm almost twenty and have had no post-secondary ed...I'm trying to do better, plan harder, and take as much responsibility as I can and not think about the wasted time. I'm going to try to apply as an internat'l student in other countries. Might have to go back to where I was born, I dunno...but at least it's a plan.
I just want to to say I admire your courage and independence.The people around you may not have a future, but you definitely do. We care about you here and we want to see you get out of your situation, make your life better and achieve whatever goals you may have.
I hope you keep yourself safe and take care of yourself and maintain your strength.

And you know, if it were up to me it's your story that would be out there bringing attention to this much-needed piece of legislation. You deserve it as much or more than anyone else here.

I know there are members here who would disagree w/ me on that point and I just want to say that you guys creep me out. No one has to end up the 21st century's most acclaimed rocket scientist in order to deserve a chance at a safe, decent life.

Hey Thespian welcome to DAP. im so sorry your going through all of this on your own and you dont have someone to talk to.i admire and respect you. you dont need a 4.0 gpa to go to college.crap i used to sleep in all my classes but in order for me to have a better future, i knew i had to work hard and get to the top.i made sure i got myself a full scholarship to berkeley.at the age of 18 my dad got deported, i had to drop out of college,work 3 jobs( i didnt care if i had to clean bathrooms,etc) to support my mom,my 3 siblings and my dad. at first i became suicidal and depressed, i was angry at myself, i keep asking myself why me,why do i have to be undocumented. but you know what i had to grow up and stop complaining because their are other people in worse situation.stay positve,work hard. you should definitely go to school, start with a community college and work your way up then you can go to a university. i know you can do it. if you ever need to talk, im here for you

I definitely know how you feel but you don't need a 4.0 GPA to go to college . Yes being undocumented in this country is one of the worst thing because you feel stuck , but remember that you are not alone in this situation , we are all in this together , we are waiting and praying for a better tomorrow . Try to stay positive , Like you say sometimes you feel like that you can be in top of the world and do many things but other times you feel very depressed , i feel the same way sometimes but don't give up there is always hope .

I know what the OP is talking about. Although I do go to college, I have friends who do not and that is perfectly acceptable, in my eyes. I reject the belief that military service and/or college is required to be productive. There are many respectable occupations out there that do not require 4 year degrees. That is just not for everyone, and vocational schools attract a lot of people as well.

I think the DREAM act needs to be rewritten to include anyone who intends to work, to be very honest.