Frustration and desperation

I do apologize for writing so much, it's just that I had to get this out of my chest, and well i found this website today and well decided to share my story.

Hi everyone, my name is Carlos and I live in Miami, I'm 17 years old going on 18 and I'm going to be graduating from high school in June 2008. My parents brought me here from Colombia when I was 13, and well my dad applied for political refuge, but after four years they denied his appeal. The worst part is that people from other countries apply for the same refuge, they go to court make up a story and 3 months late they have a legal status. Now for people like myself and my family is different. We are actually hardworking people who don't harm anyone, yet we rae the ones that I have to put up with all the immigration restrictions that are approved almost on a daily basis.
One of those restricitions is of course not being able to go college. I'll admit that my GPA, 2.7, isn't the highest, I'm not a valedictorian, but I do believe I have the right to at least go to college. Another thing, after the appeal was denied, my father decided to go back to Colombia without even asking me what I was going to do. Now I live with my mother and my grandmother alone, they too are undocumented, and of course my mother has to work and get paid "under the table" to provide for us. She cleans houses for a living, and she is getting sick. I have to wake up everyday fearing that my mother and I might get pulled over, and then it would all be over. I'd be forced to leave my HOME! I love this country, I am more patriotic than some of my native friends. Also it is very frustrating when everyday in school at 7:30 when we are supposed to stand up and recite the pledge of allegiance, I see all my cuban classmates, who have it so easy, (and may I just say that I am not racist, I'm actually dating a cuban girl). I see them sitting down, and not even caring. I personally find that very disrispectful, and what frustrates me the most is the fact that they have all the rights and privileges that we should all have!. Not only that but some of them actually get mad when the pledge comes on. I've even heard some of them say (in spanish, which makes even more frustrating) I'm not American, I'm cuban, I don't have to stand up.
Anyway, my mother has tried everything to try to resolve our status, but it seems as if there is no hope, and the only glimpse of hope i saw was the dream act, but today I heard that it was once again turned down by 8 votes.

So there you have it, that's my story. I know many of you can relate, and I will say to you my fellow undocumented aliens, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT! sometimes I get depressed, but I always come back to my senses and just leave it to God, and you should all do the same. One last thing, don't let people bring you down, we are as AMERICAN as anyone else in the U.S.

i'm assuming you entered the country legally?
a few things you should look into:
-apply to community colleges in miami
-apply for private scholarships. this is gonna be a bit tougher cause you don't have good grades
-try to get a job. I don't know how easy/hard it is in miami (i'm in central florida and i don't have a job). but if you can find a job, you could pay your tuition and maybe help your mom out.
-marriage

word of advice: your mom needs to stop cleaning houses. NOTHING is worth getting sick over. your health is your most precious thing. see if she can get another job too.

I know all of this is very tough, but many of us had to go through this process and made it. There is no reason why you wouldn't be able to.

good luck and keep visiting the site. you'll eventually get addicted like the rest of us

Welcome to the DAP

You should be able to attend a CC in Miami... they accept undocummnted students.

Good luck to you!

I agree with you 100%. I have friends who are legal and they don't care about ANYTHING for America. They only care about how they're going to get rich off of this country. Yeah, I know exactly what you're going through. I'm going through the same things. Us illegal immigrants are more patriotic than some of our legal friends.

Welcome!

Hey buddy,

yep, apply to a CC, try to get those grades up.
I believe that education is incredibly empowering

I mean it feels great to be able to speak better English than most
people around you and know the law better than most Americans

I use tragic-comic -- try and laugh at our situation... I have a Masters Degree,
and I am an expert janitor, carpet shampooer and scrubber...

Yeah, I know right?!