My name is Dan, I’m 20 years old and I currently live in Florida. I was born in Colombia and came to the U.S. on a tourist visa at the age of 11. At the time I thought I was just taking a vacation and visiting my relatives that had been living here, legally, for many years. My intention was to try and think about something other than the great tragedy I had suffered just 2 weeks before. It turns that going back was not an option because there would be nobody there waiting for me. My father died 2 weeks before I came here and my mother had died 3 years prior to that when I was 8. The only family I had left was my sister who is 5 years older than me. I needed someone to look after me, and that someone was a permanent resident living here for many years. She was my aunt but she has now become a like a mother to me. Because of technicalities I wasn’t able to adjust my status and I am the only member of my family without legal status.
I am a part-time college student majoring in Finance and I have a 4.0 GPA. I wish I could go to school full time but because Florida charges me as an Out-of-State student, I have to pay close to $1000 per class at a community college. Therefore one or two classes is all I can afford. I’ve had to turn down scholarships and job offers due to my status.
I often find my self lying to my closest friends every time they ask me about my life. Why don’t I have a job, car, or even a license. How come your not going to school full time? It’s frustrating not being able to just let it all out but I’m afraid they won’t understand since they never had to go through what I’m going right now.
I am not asking for a handout. All I want is the opportunity to earn the things that I want, make my dreams come true and to be able to give back to my community and this country which I consider my own.
Note: Dan blogs at The Political Scoop.
