My parents brought my sister and me to the US when I was only 4 years old, I’m 24 now and my sister just turned 22. Both of us graduated from high school and are currently in college, my sister is currently working on her education degree and will be graduating in two year.  On the other hand, I’m currently working on finishing my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Accounting and just started working on my master’s degree last fall.  My ultimate goal is to complete the necessary hours to seat for the CPA exam; however, I will probably not be able to do so until my legal situation in order.

My focus has always been my education. I was brought up to believe that all the struggles that my family and I have endured due to our legal status would be all worth it when I walked across the stage when I graduated from college and found that perfect job. However, as years have passed, that dream has slowly started to become quite uncertain, I will not be able to practice as an Accountant or even take the certification exam to become a CPA, all my dreams will be put on hold if this act is not passed soon.

Growing up, my parents always told us that being in this country was a privilege, a privilege that should not be taken for granted because it could all go away in the blink of an eye. My father has worked very hard all his life and has become our greatest example of what hard work can bring into a personal life.  After enduring many years of working for ruthless employers that took advantage of his legal status, he opened up his own business months after a graduated from high school. Because of his great effort and hard work, my dad, has paid my way through college and now is doing the same for my sister without any financial assistance.  It hasn’t been easy; he works very hard from sun up to sun down, six days a week, rain or shine.  However, that has become the force that encourages me to continue until something is done to make our dream become a reality.

I know that there are a lot of families out there in situations like my own, that have great assets in their children with talents that may very well be gone uncovered.  Thousands of kids are in school today, that wake up with a passion and fire for their education, that don’t take for granted anything and make the most of what they learn. However, their futures like my own are uncertain and could very well be crust in a second if something is not done.

I don’t stand alone, when I say that it’s time for us to give back to this great nation everything that it has implanted in our hearts, that we must be the voice of our parents, brothers and sisters and show America and its people that we are ready to give back everything it has invested in us.