My name is Belle, I am 20 years old, and I am a DREAM Act beneficiary.

I am originally from Brazil, and I first came to live in the United States when I was 13 years old. Because of family matters, I have not been able to go back ever since, and have been living with friends and roommates since I was 19. Since then, I have been staying with my stepfather. My family is mostly all still in Brazil, they’re incapable and thus won’t help support me. I am proud to say I’ve always been a very good student, getting my GPA as high as 3.5. Around the time I found out about my situation [being undocumented], I lost hope because I saw no future for myself and that took a toll on my studies and my GPA went drastically down. But, I was still able to graduate with honors and recommendation letters.

Living here since the beginning of my teenage years and having very little contact with the culture I am originally from, I act, speak, think, and feel much more like an American. I am proud to call this country my home, and English my language. I grew up here, learned how to be an adult here, and how to fight from my DREAMS here. I would not be who I am today if I hadn’t called this place my home and gone through what I have been through.

Right now my plans of going to college might be delayed, but I still have every intent of achieving that goal and getting my 4-year degree towards becoming a Psychologist. I want to do that because I believe there are a lot of people that need to be heard and helped. I want to help as many people as possible, so they won’t have to go through something similar to what I went through alone. Someone’s mental state is not something to be ignored. I want to be able to give back to the society which I call my own.

My opinion is that the DREAM Act should be passed for several reasons. It will greatly benefit both sides of this equation. We have these bright young people who are in this horrible situation through no fault of their own, who are incredibly capable and talented, but right now all that talent is going to waste. These people are Americans for all intent and purposes. The DREAM Act needs to be passed NOW.

We are stuck in time. Life’s at a standstill. For most of us, there is NO way out. We need to stand up and fight to stop this reign of terror against completely innocent people who have never committed a crime in their lives. People who have only worked hard for their hopes, dreams, and aspirations, and can never be recognized for it. Each person here, each voice, each action, is crucial in this fight for human rights. This is the right thing to do. In the end, the difference will still be YOU. We are not backing down, we are not giving up. I know I am not. Because I… I have the heart of a lion.