My name is Monica and I am Undocumented
A LIFE WITHOUT DIGITS
Living in the United States as an immigrant has been my biggest challenge. On a hot summer night, along with my mother I crossed the border pursuing a dream. After a long journey, I arrived to New York on September 7, 2005. Back then I thought that the obstacles for me had ended but I didn’t realize that it was just the beginning of a journey where I would encounter many obstacles. Those obstacles have helped me grow up as an individual and they also have taught me that life is not easy.
If I compare the friends of mine who were born in this country to the ones who immigrated to the United States I always see that there is a big difference in lifestyles. The first ones don’t really care a lot about their performance in school because they know that everything will come easily to them, they live legally in this country and have never faced the obstacles that we face. They don’t know how it feels going to a Financial Aid office and being told: “You are wasting your time coming in here, if you don’t have a Social Security number you can’t get any help”. They don’t know how it is like to cross the border in a dark and cold night. But we, the “aliens” have experienced these kind of problems many times, therefore we always work double.
I am currently a senior at an International High School. There I have heard many stories about young immigrants like me. They all have many dreams, just like I do. A lot of them want to succeed; they always tell me that they want to be doctors, lawyers, etc. But it is very sad when they put their heads down and say: “But I am undocumented.” I would like to cheer them up by telling them that everything will be fine but the truth is that, I don’t know what will happen to our future... I don’t know if everything will be fine. The only hope that I have is the Dream Act, this bill that if passed would be the only thing that would help make our dreams and goals come true.
Since I am a senior, this year I started my College application process, and it was very frustrating that I could not apply for the colleges that I wanted to go just because I don’t have citizenship or residency in the United States. I was hoping that by attending a CUNY College I could get some kind of help but unfortunately, a few days ago when I went to Lehman College’s financial aid office I realized that there is no way for me to get financial help. The financial aid officer told me that if I didn’t have a social security number I could not get any help from them. I felt very sad and upset when I heard what she said. Nevertheless it gave me the strength to keep on fighting for my dreams.
Without the nine digits I can only qualify for a very few scholarships, without the nine digits I cannot get a job. I acknowledge that it will be very difficult for my mother and I to afford my college tuition, but I really want to be the first member of my family to go to college. A lot of people might think that the best thing I could do is to go back to “my country” but I would like them to know that the United States is my country now. Therefore I want to get educated in this country, work in this country and live in this country. I want to stay at my new and only home.
I always wonder if all the sacrifices that my mother has made in order to give me a better life would be worth someday. I recognize that my mother is not the only parent working really hard to save money for her child’s college tuition. Like her there are many parents who would do anything to see their children succeed in this country. I wonder if all the nights with no sleep and the tears we all have cried will be worth it someday.
My mother blames herself for what I am experiencing right now but the truth is that it is not her fault. I know that what she was looking for when she decided to come to this country was to create a great future for me, the great future that she could never have because of the lack of economic resources that she suffered back in Mexico. I want my mother to be proud of me because she deserves it.
It is unbelievable how anti-immigrants say that undocumented people are criminals when the First Article from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights...” However, in this country not all human beings have equal rights. They should know that no human being is illegal. If God gave us the opportunity to live then, why does the absence of a simple paper forbid us from having the opportunity to have the rights that everyone else has?
I don’t know what will happen after I graduate from high school, my dream is to go to college and become a professional but without a legal status in the United States it will be a big challenge for me. However, I will not give up and I have faith that the Dream Act will be passed. This bill is the only hope that I have; having a legal status is the only way I can make my dream come true. My name is Monica and I am Undocumented…an Undocumented immigrant who doesn’t know what will happen to her future, an undocumented who is not afraid anymore. A young immigrant, who is always trying to stand out in her society because she wants to make a difference. A young woman who has knowledge, values, energy and hunger to succeed but I cannot do this entirely if I can’t continue with my education.
Coming out of the Shadows Week: How to Guide
crossposted at DreamActivist.org
Undocumented youth all over this country will finally come out the shadows and lay claim to their own futures. No longer will we let ourselves be intimidated, scared and ashamed. We have worked long and hard, we have risen to meet every challenge and we have made this country a better place for all. And yet, we are relegated to live in fear. So let us come out and end this fear.
Below find a Coming Out Guide in preparation for Coming Out Day (March 10th) and Coming Out Week (March 15-21)
Coming out of the Shadows – A How To Guide
Difficulty:
Easy to Medium to Very Difficult
Time:
10 minutes-2 hours
“Brothers and Sisters, you must come out! come out to your parents, come out to your friends, if indeed they are your friends, come out to your neighbors, come out to your fellow workers. Once and for all, let’s break down the myth and destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake, for their sake. For the sake of all the youngsters who’ve been scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene. On the Statue of Liberty it says ‘ Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.’ In the Declaration of Independence it is written, ‘All men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights.’ For Mr. Briggs and Mrs. Bryant and all the bigots out there, no matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words from the Declaration of Independence! No matter how hard you try you can never chip those words from the base of the Statue of Liberty! That is where America is!”
-Harvey Milk
Congratulations! You have decided to come out of the shadows about your undocumented status. Perhaps you have finally decided to tell your friends why you haven’t signed up for your drivers’ ed. class or why you still don’t drive to school. Maybe, you will come out to your guidance counselor, who has asked you repeatedly to turn in your college application, but you were too afraid to tell him/her that you don’t have a social security number and that you still don’t know how you will pay for college without financial aid.
Please remember you are not alone. You are part of a large community of courageous undocumented youth who have decided to come out of the shadows about our immigration status. We live every day in fear and we are tired of it. We want to be able to talk about our lives and our stories without fearing persecution or deportation. We are not free to travel, go to school, work, live, but we refuse to be helpless. In the same way the LGBTQ community has historically come out, undocumented youth, some of whom are also part of the LGBTQ community, have decided to speak openly about their status. Your courage will open the way to having even more conversations about your immigration status. Sharing your stories will allow us, as a movement of undocumented youth, to grow, as we continue to learn to accept ourselves. By being more open we will begin replacing fear with courage and, ultimately, be united in our demands for change. You will be surprised how little other people know about the realities of being undocumented. People who know someone who is gay or lesbian are more likely to support equal rights for all gay and lesbian people- the same follows for people who know someone who is undocumented. Also note, if you must also confront intersecting oppressions (i.e. Gender, Race, Class, Sexual orientation), coming out about your status is one of the many hurdles for liberation.
National Coming Out Day
March 10th is National Coming Out Day. In Chicago, the Immigrant Youth Justice League will be holding a rally and a march to launch a week-long “coming out” of undocumented youth across the country. In other cities and towns, students are coming out to their friends on a much smaller scale. Whether big or small, consider participating in the National Coming Out Day and weeks by coming out!
Before you get started:
If you are nervous about coming out:
- Practice, Practice, Practice!: In front of a mirror or with someone with whom you’ve already come out to
- Breathe: Breathing is a good thing. When we are nervous, we tend to withhold our breath or breathe heavily. Take a break and be conscious of your breathing. Breathe in and out until you can hear your heart beat normally. This is good for centering yourself and your thoughts.
- Protect Yourself
- Use only your first name, a nickname or your middle name
- Limit the amount of identifying information in your story of self. For example, instead of saying “I live on Elm Street” you say “I live in St. Paul, MN.”
- Write your story and have a friend or family member read it.
- Know Your Rights
Include Know Your Rights Info here.
How to Participate in the Coming Out Week:
Your Commitment:
Look at the list below and determine your level of participation. Every bit helps moves us closer to passing the DREAM Act!
Coming out is a very important and empowering time in a persons life. By coming out of the shadows you’re finally shedding some light on this issue that has been affecting others for years. Remember that there’s other youth out there, like yourself, that are too scared to come out. By taking the first step many more will find the courage they need to speak out as well!
DOWNLOAD GUIDE HERE: Complete-Guide