I have my own awards to give out from my bittersweet week in Washington D.C.

Low point: The humid weather and the microphone.

Runner-up for me

High point:

Illegal is Illegal:

Tubelight: Piash has an uncanny resemblance to Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

Normally, I would have no problem: A Congressional aide sticking out her tongue at me after hearing that I have a graduate degree

Sorely Missed: Tam Tran and Marie Gonzalez!

I got in line but: Getting a ticket for parking in front of Homeland Security

Pet Peeve: It’s not called a ‘mock graduation;’ it’s the National DREAM Graduation and solidarity actions.

Heart-breaking Moment – Benita Veliz.

I saw a lot of tears being shed. My own came only when I missed saying goodbye to our friends from NYSYLC.

Quote of the Day: “Doesn’t matter what they tell you…you belong here.” – Walter Lara

On crack: “Honestly, we should just plan a revolution in 3 hours.” – Jose Luis

Stalwarts: Mohammad and Lizbeth for agreeing to MC the event (not that they had much of a choice…)

Afterthoughts: Jose Luis doesn’t need a microphone to talk; Mo is a giant and Lizbeth doesn’t make it to the podium.

Candid moment:

1. The New York contingent singing “Happy Birthday Marisol”

2. All of the founding members of DREAMActivist in the same room for the first time, working till 1am doing last minute work for the graduation.

Song of the Day: “If you know about the DREAM Act, you are illegal…” (don’t ask)

What can be done better: Communications and a full-on social!

Unsung heroes: NCLR for media support, SEIU for the endorsement and footing some of the costs, and the team at NYSYLC.

Hardcore: ULI Texas, SWER Florida, SIM Massachusettes, VLDF Wisconsin for driving for hours to get to D.C.!

Letdown: Mo practicing the name “Maribel Solivan” a hundred times only to butcher it on the podium.

Special mention: Psst… it’s Pride week!

Groan-worthy: TSA agent waving to another TSA agent and excitedly pointing to my passport “OMG it’s from FUJI!!”

I clear my throat, annoyed. “Fiji.” I corrected her.

“Yes yes, Fiji. Wow. Are you from India? You look Indian.”

(Long line behind me…) “No…I am from Fiji”

“Oh yes.”

Throwing Training out the Window:

Legislative training – “You don’t have to tell the press that you are undocumented”

An hour later to KTVU: “My name is Prerna Lal P-R-E-R-N-A L-A-L and I am undocumented” (Do you want an address too)?

Best Reason to Pass the DREAM Act: So we don’t have to do this again

Thank you Josh Bernstein and Lizbeth Mateo for the shoutouts to DreamActivist.org