I always felt so alone in this. I don’t usually tell people about my status because not thinking about it is what motivates me to keep going but I am 19 years old, a sophomore in a community college, and honestly, as I grow older it just gets harder and harder to deny the fact that this is a HUGE anchor weighing us down.  An anchor tying us and not letting us reach our goals and our dreams.

I came from Colombia to the United States as a 9 year old kid, life was so easy back then… school, homework, tv, and games. as I grew older I always thought by the time I was 17 something could’ve happened to fix my status but then I found myself walking on the sidewalks while all my friends drove their new cars, and then I found myself working at warehouses sweating all day long for minimum wage while everyone else sat at offices for $12/hr.  My frustration grew deeper. Everyone else was so excited because they got accepted to colleges with great education and beautiful campuses and i would just smile and wish them luck because even tho my grades were good and i wanted to dorm at a college and live the college life, I knew I was just destined to take a train to the community college and back home every night while working in a warehouse all morning. Now i find myself on the verge of graduating with an associates degree but with a dream of finding a good job, driving a nice car, and continuing my education at the college of my choice. yet i know i can’t do it.

With President-Elect Obama in office now I feel like honestly anything is possible in this country and my hopes are up again. I’m ready to take action. I’m ready to make my voice heard. I’ve been waiting 10 years and I am just sick and tired of living this life.  I walk in the cold, take buses, take trains, and do whatever to get to wherever I have to go but I daze out looking at people in cars and thinking what I would do to have what they have.

I love this country because here is where I have learned all my values, attended school since 4th grade, and lived through all my teenage years.  The happiest and saddest moments of my life have occurred here.  I would fight for this country and shed blood and tears for this country.  All I want is a little something in return.  I want to be part of it so I can finally live a normal life.  I’m tired of acting, I cant give out my true identity so I have to pretend to be something I am not and that goes against my morals.

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