Greetings, I'm Kevin. Here is some of my story.

I was brought to the U.S., specifically a small town in Texas, at the age of 6 years old from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I have very few memories from Mexico as would be expected of a child. If I focus hard enough on locating memories in my brain I might successfully have about 10 flashbacks, which do no justice to the 5 years of childhood. On the other hand, the memories that flood back into my mind with ease are those experiences I have had since the "big move". I can easily remember my first day of first grade, my teacher Mrs. Rosenbaum personally had no ability to establish any form of communication with an only Spanish speaking kid. She did her best to successfully make me more comfortable by locating two girls who could translate for us. I accepted the seat timidly observing the girls for everything still felt so strange. After awhile I began to talk to them in Spanish feeling more comfortable, but unfortunately they did not want to be friends. They began to ridicule me and I began to grow more and more impatient with their antics. Finally to the point where I forgot all of my current dilemmas and barriers. I got up and walked up Mrs. Rosenbaum's desk. Filled with pride, and heavy with emotion I declared in my plight. I advocated the punishment of my oppressors. Then I received a response. I don't remember what she said, but I remember the sinking feeling of helplessness. I was overwhelmed and burst into tears and attempted one last effort at conveying my distress to no avail. I walked back to my table with no thoughts of who I was rejoining, just the feeling of complete isolation. That was the day my voice was virtually silenced. Fortunately I finally learned English, and made some new friends that year. Being undocumented has made being silenced very easy for me. Luckily my life has led me to people who have opened me up and embraced my personality. This is the land that I love, and I want to stand up and do my part to have the Dream Act become a Reality act. I am finally "Undocumented and Unafraid!"

Please comment and give me your perspectives, and share how you are participating in Dream act activism. I will stand up so that we may have our justice. I hope you do the same. Live Brave.

This is a very nice story. Welcome to DAP!!!

Do your best in school and never loose hope!

I recently helped organize the coming out of the shadows rally in Chicago along with IYJL, Nuestra Voz, and LOY@L, there are still more events taking place, with a second coming out of the shadows taking place by the end of the week in Dupage county, a county that enforces secure communities and taking place in front of the sheriff's office. It will need all the support from people that it can get. This is not the first time something like this has been done, the whole coming out movement, and "Undocumented and Unafraid" movement started as an attempt to prevent laws that would criminalize people not just for being undocumented but also for helping those that were undocumented.

Such actions give a face to the bills, humanizes the issue and demonstrates that there are people involved in the plight.

as far as my other involvement, I have helped found two new organizations within my university, I am in the executive boards of two other organizations and active within SGA, as well as getting involved with mental health research in hopes of providing better information that counselors and psychologists can use to help those that really need it as well as opening resources. I have also given presentations in schools, mostly high schools on know your rights, as well as currently organizing workshops that will target counselors, parents and students in Illinois with information on what resources are available and what are their rights.

You may see more information on the Dupage coming out event in the calendar located on the left, it will take place on March 16. Let me know if you have any questions regarding anything.

But you know what I am most amazed about, I have been in this university since 2007... 1 year ago, no one heard me speak, 2 years ago, I was counting the number of days that I could go without saying a single word to a single individual, feeling very unmotivated. And today, I am trying to open more resources and advocate. Since I started talking with people resources have opened and opportunities have appeared, actions have taken place and social life improves as people realize that there are other options available.

Never give up, no matter how low the odds seem, there are many people out there advocating and they, we will not give up.

Wow. I completely look up to you now. I just recently discovered this site when I was trying to find out information on selective service. Before that I had been following the news hoping to hear some good news about the Dream act. Sparingly being satisfied, but now I can actually communicate with others who have way more experience with the world in our situation. I live in a small town on the outskirts of Houston, TX and can't drive so reaching organizations in Houston isn't possible for me. Also my community college is actually a branch of a larger community college and there isn't very much support. I really want to participate more, and join more organizations. My sister has joined two at her university. So thank you for the information. I will do my best to keep people informed and encouraged.

I actually have a Chemistry Prof who graduated from Rice and one of his Profs was a Nobel prize winner who helped discover the "bucky" balls. My Prof said he recently died. I forgot his name though.

That is very nice story Kevin. Never lose hope. That is the thing which make you a perfect man. As you want to make friends and you are a Spanish speaker which is a great barrier. Then you learn English and make so many friends. That is the hope that you will not lose. Be your best in school. Good luck.

Thank you. Hope is the only freedom we privilege ourselves. I will never give mine up. I'm definitely not a perfect man, but I do strive to be wiser than I was yesterday. Good luck to you too.

I don't believe in reincarnation.

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