a similar story, with my own touch

Obviously I know I'm not alone; this website is testament to that. So I feel like my story is like many others, with a few tweaks here and there.

I came in 2000, and I moved to the U.S. with uncles and cousins in New York City. It was pretty miserable; I was tricked into coming here because I always told the truth. So if I would've been asked by an official if I was just visiting, I would've said no if I had known. I was little, and I guess everyone figured it was for the best, so they told me I was on vacation for a couple of months. Later I came to find out my passport was going to expire in three months from the time I came, so that was my parents' sense of urgency for me to come here.

Conditions were bad and were deteriorating financially, and they really believed "the American dream", that if I was here and willing to succeed, it would happen. We all have come to find out that things don't really happen that way. Pity. Nobody really did anything for my immigration status, either because they didn't know what to do, or thought there was nothing to do. Either way, my visa expired years ago. I was too small to even know to do anything. And now it's too late.

Later, I moved with my dad to another state, since he was already here (been here since I was 5 years old), and my mom came later. Since then, I went to high school in a small town, was just like a regular teen, but always had my situation in the background. It affected everything, even though I didn't want it to: driving, schooling, money, traveling, friendships, my relationship, and the worst for me, education. I was taught from the beginning that education would get me anywhere, and was my escape from the lives my parents lived, the escape to a wayyy better life. I'm intelligent, and my family got to see that early on, and through my grades and success in school, so I was praised and told by family how important it was.

Now, I obviously can't go to most colleges that I would've been accepted to, some because of my situation directly, others because I don't have the money to do it (which is because of my situation). I plan on going to community college, then transferring when my situation is better or I have more money saved up. I already graduated, but sadly didn't get to go to the community college because I couldn't come up with the money in time. I can't get a job, unless it's under the table. There are some but since I'm in a small town, I have to drive. There are cops all around here, and that might cost me 10 years of having been here. I'm getting to that point of risking it, however. I don't know exactly how things are going to go, but I'm determined, and I WILL move forward.

i understand what you are going through. my mom brought me here when i was 8 yrs old in 1999. i'm going to a community college right now because i got a pell grant, they only give me $890 but at least that pays for my classes. i wanted to go to a university but wasnt able to because i didnt have the money, so i had to start in a community college. i know what you're saying about driving, everytime i drive i risk myself, i've been pulled over 3times and so far i've been soooo lucky i just got a warning. and i'm not working, cause i dont want to work under the table like you said, i feel like if i do it, it would make it harder for me to get legilized some day.
but we cant give up!

thanks and yea I know, sometimes I have that feeling of perseverance and other days I have the feeling of hopelessness. but wow you've gotten lucky! My dad's like that too, he's gotten pulled over before and been in situations most people would be screwed in, and thanks to other people's compassion he's still here. See, I didn't know if I could apply for a grant, I was kinda scared to try to apply and once I see anything asking for an SSN, I run away. lol

what state are you from ? You could try to apply to private colleges. I'm lucky that because I'm from california, i could attend public university here.

PA; the community colleges here are nice, they give in-state fees, and even some of the public colleges might, but you have to have proof that you have all of the tuition beforehand, which obviously I don't have since I have no money :/ but that might change soon