Controversial Legislation May Give Immigrant Students a Chance at College

becca is so slow because she is a vaca.

luis of NV 12:25PM April 29, 2010

I too am an immigrant who was brought to the US from Mexico at age 3. I know exacly what she went through a how tough it is because I too lived in Compton, California. I am 19 years old and I lived 16 years of my life in Compton. It was not easy nor it was safe. I started school in kindergarden (Rosecrans Elementary). I did not know English, all I knew was Spanish and I struggled. Even though Compton was tough I still stayed focused in school and worked hard earning certificates from perfect attendence to high gpa. Throughout the years my friends and I were exposed to gangs as we entered middle school and high school. The majority of my friends started heading to the gang life and got more involved in gangs. I still stayed focused in school and never let the violence and events around me get to me. Entering high school (Compton High) was even tougher. I came face to face with reality. I found out I was undocumented. I knew I was born in Mexico, but I did not know I was in undocumented. I realized that all those years of hard work and effort of mines ment nothing. My father was just working on his permanent residence (which he got 2 years after I started high school). The bad news kept coming at me. I found out I wasn't able to get my licence. I would not be able work/get a part time job. Half way through my junior year in high school my parents decided to move to Tucson, Arizona. I knew this was a bad idea but I was only 16 years old. Even though I knew my situation was tough I still stayed focused in school because my goal during that time was to be the first out of my whole entire family (both here in the US and Mexico) to graduate from High School, and I did. That ment a lot for me and my family. Being the oldest with three younger brothers and many cousins I decided to set the bar high. So I decided to go to college. I attended three semesters, and during that time I decided on my carreer and what I wanted to do with my life. I decided to complete my Associates in Liberal Arts and then transfer to the University of Arizona and do my five year Architect program to earn my Bach's in Architecture. This is my goal now, but unfortunatly my education has come to either a pause or the end. I have no money. I tried my hardest to find private scholarships/grants that do not require citizenship. I did not have any luck, so now I cannot attend school this semester. I'm hoping that 2010 is different and that we the students are treated equally and that we all have the same benifits because we all are pursuing the same thing and that is an education. Immigration status should not be an obstacle. People like me, undocumented, might of been born in another country but we were raised as Americans. The US is made up of Immigrants, just look around. When I was younger all I heard was "the children are the future", without the dream act or a well structured immigration reform, there is no future. Its as simple as that.

Jose Hernandez of AZ 11:33PM February 07, 2010

you call us immigrants people that shouldn't be here but where did you come from? Weren't your relatives or grandparents ever immigrants or did all americans just magically appear here?

anonymous of CA 11:48AM January 26, 2010

There are so many ignorant people in this wolrd who dont stop to think for a couple of seconds.

People shouldn't say whatever idea pops into their head. You never know when you might need someone to help you with anything. An immigrant might be the person to save your life. Oh and i know there are plenty of americans for that but just take a minute to think with your heads...not with your a**

Julie of CT 1:11AM December 28, 2009