My Testimony: An Unedited Version!
My name doesn’t matter. Where I was born, however, is of great importance.
I was born in a small town in Guanajuato, Mexico. Acambaro, the place where my parents and most of my family members claim their heritage, is also the only link to a past that I have yet to dismantle.
I say this because I, like many, was brought to a country at an age in which our future was to become one of an American. At the age of six months I tagged along with my parents and came to Oakland, where I was to reside for 19 years. Little did I know back then that the border that we crossed was not going to be the last obstacle we were to face.
With immigration came family members. Besides my nuclear family, I am also part of a larger group of immigrants that decided to look for an opportunity for a better life in the bay area. Through word-of-mouth, prior experience, and ultimately a lively web of social networks; uncles, cousins, and anyone else you could call family, all started migrating as well.
Since my first year at the University of California, Davis, I have not lost this vision and therefore I have plans to attend a masters program in Sociology and then either earn a Ph.d in the same field or receive a J.D. Being a Psychology, Sociology, and Chican@ Studies major, I have learned the value of being active and helpful in any way possible.
Last year I started a program by the name of Success Through Educational Mentoring (STEM for short) in which we recruit UC Davis undergraduates to become a year-long mentor for high school students who are need of motivation and consequently promoting a higher education.
This summer I attended my California Aggie Camp for underprivileged orphans. By becoming a counselor for these 7-14 year old kids, we are able to provide a lending hand in a period of two weeks.
This past spring I helped start a program geared towards immigrant youth who become detained at the Woodland Juvenile Facility. The program, now titled Youth Empowerment Program, did not allow me to fully participate because of my immigration status.
Before that I was an undergraduate volunteer and computer systems coordinator for Clinica Tepati, a free clinic located in Downtown Sacramento. In this program, we devoted our efforts and established their goals those without insurance, mainly immigrant patients.
As far as paying for school, I am privileged to say that my parents have decent job in which they are able to pay for my education. Their hard work allows them to make just enough to get me through college. Other than that, various programs/scholarships have also gave me a financial push so that I can one day graduate.
In my family I am the only one without an immigration status. My parents, receiving their residency in 2003 and then their citizenship in 2008 earned theirs the risky way, by going through trial. My 19-year-old brother was fortunate enough to have been born here, therefore leaving his only sibling to a life of an immigrant student.
In all honesty, the fact that I have been what they term, an “illegal immigrant” did not hit me until I was an eleventh grader in high school. I did not learn about the major drawbacks of being undocumented until I was told that I could not receive financial aid to pay for a university education. That was when I became more aware of the differences that unfortunately placed me in this situation.
Since then, I have learned to help not only an immigrant student who wishes to accomplish his dreams, but anyone who is need of a guide.
Keep up the hard work. I know of many people close to me in your situation. One day we will win this unjust struggle.
Hey knavila,
Thanks for breaking the silence and sharing your story with us. Like you, I am also the only undocumented immigrant in my family. They have also paid for my schooling so I owe a lot to them.
Anyway hang in there and I hope you continue on your schooling.
I admire your hard work and dedication to the community around you! Keep it up!
very touching story
keep it up!
You story is very inspirational to young people. I can’t believe that ‘red tape’ can cause a problem like this. I think it is important that young people expand their horizons.
“Being a Psychology, Sociology, and Chican@ Studies major…” Okay, that says it all — you are a triple major! I’m so impressed by your academic accomplishments and your willingness to help out to so many kids in need. I admire your initiative — you haven’t just joined groups, but identified needs and created groups to address those needs. So excited to see where your organizing journey will take you this year.
Thanks for sharing your story, Krsna. Keep up the good work! Your desire to want to help and guide others is also very inspirational.
Great story. Keep up the good work.