Personal Testimonial 9/5/2009
My name is Oskary Vanessa Arrieta. For a few years now I have used my middle name Vanessa, because it is a lot easier to pronounce for a lot of people. I am 19 years old. Born in San Cristobal, Venezuela. I currently live in Santa Rosa, 45 minutes north of San Francisco. I came to this country about eight years ago September 22th 2001, a few days after 9/11. I came to this country with my brother and my mother, to leave with my uncle that has been leaving in the country for three years and insisted for us to come. My mother left her job and right when my bother and I were done with the school year we make the big change. We all came from leaving in the big of Cararas not having any idea how bad the situation of the country was going to get. It was almost like god acted in your life knowing how the situation in Venezuela was going to get worse. My brother, my mother and I arrived to his country after a 13 hour flit to SFO at 8:15pm on a Saturday. I started the 6th grade on Tuesday , September 25th. Only two days after arriving the country. Attending Brookhill elementary, two years at Slater middle school and four years of high school at Montgomery High. Now I am attending the Santa Rosa Junior College majoring in Political Science.
I have been involve with Southwest Community Health Center’s Teen Advocacy group, also know as T.A.G, for four years now. I started at the age of 15 volunteering with the program to serve the young community and educating them and my self about youth related issues such as body image, confidentiality laws in California, STI, HIV, abortion, substance abuse, ext. What started as a fun and safe way to make friends and help my community ended up being the best and most life changing opportunity of my life. Thanks to T.A.G I was able to be part of other great organizations like the Polity Leadership Program with the California Center in Sacramento, working on health-related policymaking processes. I been also able to work with Face to Face receiving HIV education trainings to do presentations on middle school, high school, colleges, and adult school, both in English and Spanish.
I have also worked for Southwest Community Health Center’s Teen Clinic as a Teen Clinic Specialist for a year, and a Flow Coordinator for two years. While having this jobs I have also worked for Forever 21 as a sales associate, and going to school. I recently resided from my job at the health center to attend UC Berkeley for the summer and look for job that is more related to my major so I can obtain for experience the subject.
The legal status in my family is very mix. My brother Rod, currently leaving in Cabos, Mexico. Is on a status where this documents are process and main while he cannot enter the country until my father becomes a citizen and he is invited back in the country. My mother has no legal status, and I am permanent resident. This situation has greatly impacted my family because my mother is not able to be around her grandkids while the grow up. And it brakes my heart that all she is able to see are pictures and videos that my brother sends to us or that I collect when I visit them.
When the Dream Act first came to my attention I was browsing on Facebook. It was send to me as a message asking me to supported. I have to say yes, the Dream Act is very important to me, even when I do have the opportunity to attend college with no legal problem. I have a lot of friends that I would like to see obtain a higher education with no barrier. It was hard to see them graduate from high school and hear them talk about how much they wanted to go to college and how far away that seem. Most of them brought to the U.S. at a very young age, with no recollection of what there country is like and never gone back.
I am very passionate about my education, both in school and my job. I love learning new and interesting things to my benefit all the time. I am also very passionate about issues like immigration, gay marriage, health care, and teen education. Issues that I have try to be involve the most I can.
For the future I am planning on going to law school. My community, the teens that I now educate on the T.A.G, and my family is what keeps me going. Knowing that I can make a positive impact in there life give me even more of a drive to do what I do and educate my self more to represent them a lot better.
We need more people like you, Oskary, who understand that the DREAM Act is not just about you, but about justice to those brought here as minors. Thank you for your support!
Yes, we DO need people like you! It’s important for people to understand how our US immigration policies negatively impact so many people, including permanent residents. Your openness in sharing your family’s story will convince people of the need for change.
You have a very inspiring story, Oskary! You are an asset not only to your community, but to the immigrant movement as well. People and leaders like yourself is most definitely what we need. Hasta la victoria, siempre!