How To Become An Unocumented Immigrant

As a child I would always see my parents work hard for every dollar they made. When I reached my teenage years I realized that it was because they were immigrants to this country and took whatever job opportunity they could find. I also came to realize that I was an immigrant, and that life was tougher for not having the proper documentation. This year I fell into the biggest hole of my life. I learned that I was not going to get financial aid because of my legal status and my mother was also diagnosed with a tumer last month.

Coming from a low income family, living in a small town in India, I learned early on about struggling and surviving those struggles. I watched my parents working day and night to provide for electricity, pay for our monthly school fees so my sister and I can have a better education, and for the future they wished upon for their children. To further enhance this vision, my father decided for the family and I to immigrate to the US. Everything was different in the sense that I changed schools, learned a new language, had to make new friends, and learned the different culture. I had to adapt to a whole new world, which was a little difficult at 6 years old However, when I look back now, I just couldn’t believe how far my family and I had come which I have my father to thank for. If it wasn’t for my father, I’ll still be going to school in India without ever knowing that this other half of the world even existed, because of the rough circumstances we were facing in India. The future wouldn’t have been as bright as it now and I feel truly blessed to have come to a new world which contained many great opportunities.

Being a child of immigrant parents is not easy. You are constantly living in the fear that one day you’ll wake up and you parents won’t be there with you anymore. Specially now that we have a new president, things are getting more challenging. But don’t get me wrong, I live a happy life. I am proud to call myself a Latina.

Looking at my mom and dad’s situation from a Gladwellian lens showed me that hard work is exactly what I needed to achieve my goal in attending college and to become a better track and field

My dad worked in a bakery in South Gate for a few years and two years later my mom and my sister came to the U.S. The fact that I come from an immigrant family, I am aware of the struggles that many immigrants face. Someone who is undocumented faces different

After reading the article “Come Out Illegal”, by Maggie Jones, it tells a story about this girl name Leslie. Leslie is a senior at the University of California at Los Angeles. She is a marathon runner, has three-part time jobs and plans to go to grad school which is awesome. She is also an undocumented immigrant. She came into the U.S. when she was 6 years old and as she got older she knew of the different things that she would

This would never have been possible if not for the "push" my family gave me towards education and hard

I'm from the Dominican Republic and I have 4 years living in the United States. When I came to the united states I was 13 years old, it was not easy for my brother and me to start a new life in another country without our mother. Learning another language was the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Being an immigrant it's not easy, I’m in a country that is not mine, so I had started from the beginning. And the beginning will be difficult.

My family came here for a better life like most immigrants. I didn’t know what culture was, even though my mother mentioned it sometimes. I didn’t know what race was, what America was, life and pretty much just how life works. I’ve been in America for almost fourteen years, switched schools eleven times and can’t count the amount of time I’ve moved apartment homes. I have even been religious, private, public, and charter schools.

Reflecting on my development as a first-generation immigrant, I can attribute a large portion of my characteristics and aspirations to my experiences growing up and to the role model whom I have admired, my mother. More specifically, being exposed to the tireless work ethic of a single parent who had to overcome the dual pressures of assimilation and poverty has imparted in me a respect for the ideals of continual self-improvement and advancement. My mother’s sacrifices have always been to better our family’s situation and to provide me with the best education opportunities. Recognizing my mother’s hard worked and what she has given up for me, I put my best foot forward in every situation to honor her. Looking back at the hardships such as racial discrimination and language barriers my mother had to transcend, as

In my family I am not only the oldest child- I am also a first generation student and currently the only person in my immediate family to hold a degree of any kind. I feel incredibly proud of this accomplishment because being a first generation student means having a limited amount of support from family members. Often times I was required to rely on researching the internet or interviewing professionals for answers to my college related questions. This skill was especially useful when I was offered a position at LCC’s five-star, NAEYC accredited center. As an Assistant Teacher, families rely on me for information regarding their child’s development and our center.

I interviewed both my parents, who both arrived in Los Angeles in the 1970s and experienced tough journeys arriving in the United States. They also provided testimony of their experiences working in various jobs/industries in Los Angeles. I chose to conduct interviews with my parents because I feel that their experiences will enhance my paper and their accounts are important, especially because I am analyzing how Mexican immigrants have contributed to the Los Angeles economy. Their stories and experiences serve as oral accounts, which I will be able to have once my parents are no longer with me. These interviews were held and conducted in my home.

One of the biggest life changing moments that has ever happened to me was when the president of the United States Obama gave the privilege to minor Aliens the DREAM Act. What is this Act, in other words, it is a permit for younger teens about the age of 15 thru the age of 30 years of age can apply for a temporary legal status if their parents are undocumented the minor/adult can apply for this act and can maybe in the future apply for citizenship. The outcome of the DREAM Act has really made a huge impact in my life because without this DREAM act I wouldn't be here right now. This DREAM Act has really changed my life starting with not having to fear of getting deported and being able to continue with my education and having my own personal

Aside our difference in status, we were the same, American, with one dream: going to college. At times I questioned the possibility of furthering my education. Even with the enactment of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a policy created by the Obama administration that allowed eligible DREAMERS to come out of the shadows

It was important for me to continue my education, especially in this field as it has always been a dream of mine. In my family neither of my parents attended college, through the years I have watched them do jobs they hated so me and my siblings could be successful. As I got older my brother attended college, be prospered and graduated in four years. He now has a steady job and