Students for Fair Consideration

You can call me “Hope” or “Esperanza” because that’s what I have… HOPE FOR A CHANGE! LA ESPERANZA DE UN CAMBIO! I was born in the beautiful state of Michoacan, Mexico.  Currently I live in the Bay Area with my parents and my little sister.  My father was born in Michoacan, Mexico.  He is 42 years old; his hands can vividly show the necessity of having a few pieces of bread to feed his brothers and sisters when they were left alone, since my grandmother and my grandfather past away when he was a child. 

My father is the youngest of six, and still he managed to take responsibility for his siblings at a very young age.  Despite the fact that he was the youngest of all, he was very mature and responsible.  Due to the few and scarce opportunities that my country offers, my father went completely bankrupt and lost a small family business.  In addition, he began to feel depressed and began to drink.  In 1995, my father migrated to the United States when I was only five years- old.  He left my mother and me in search of a better future. 

On the other hand, my mother, my hero, is a 42 year- old woman that has struggled a lot throughout her lifetime.  She was also born in Michoacan, Mexico.  Since the beginning until now, she has been the light of the family.  I can recall how she used to earn some pesos (Mexican coins), and she rather spend that money on her daughter than herself.  My mother has put her daughters first all the time!  I really admire my mother because of her kindness and generosity, but also because of her braveness and courage to succeed.  Even though sometimes life has been very tough! 

In 1997, my mother migrated to the United States leaving behind her only daughter, heading to “El Norte” in order to give a better life and better opportunities to her daughter, to me.  Later on in 1999, I was heading to “The Land of Opportunity” just as my dad and my mom had done it.  I was only nine years old when I saw my father after four years and my mother after two years of absence.   Deep in my heart I knew that every sacrifice they made was made thinking about me and my future.  That is why I didn’t resent their absence so much. 

Ever since I was in pre-school I was an outstanding student.  In Mexico, every Monday the top student in the Honor Roll gets to march and carry the Mexican Flag and during my school years in Mexico I always carried the Mexican Flag.  To me, it was such an honor!  Coming to the United States was a very hard transition because of the culture, the language and the new traditions.  As time passed by, I began to accommodate myself into the American culture and to embrace it, as much as my native culture.  Currently, I am attending Chabot College.  I am planning to obtain a Business Administration AA Degree and transfer to CSU East Bay to work on my BA.  Also, I’m part of the Puente Program and the Puente Club, were we participate and volunteer in our community.  Often, volunteer at the Kid’s Breakfast Club and Hayward Hill HealthCare Center.  Also, I tutor and help some of my peers.  This semester I was going to part of the English tutors at my college.  Sadly, I didn’t have the opportunity to help other people and contribute to my college because I don’t have a legal permit to work in the United States.

Currently, I don’t have a job.  Therefore, my mother is the one that supports me financially, which has turned out to be a challenge because since I’m an AB- 540 student, I don’t get any kind of financial support.  However, this is a fact that makes me stronger!  It saddens me to see, my parents work all the time for low wage salaries in order to provide me a good education, since they are undocumented as well.  Luckily, in 2005 my father was approved by the law 245-I.  But sadly, my father has not made an attempt to continue with his case due to the absurd stereotypes of Machismo in the Mexican culture.  Our culture is a very dominant culture where the male is seem as the head of the house and no questions are to be asked.  At first while I was in high school, I was encouraged by both of my parents to continue with my education. When I attended college, my mom was the only one who supported me and believed in me.  My father told me that I was ready to make money and work.  It seems like in my culture the life cycle of a woman is supposed to be: to drop out of school, work, get married and procreate children.  My mother always says, “When you feel ready, have just one or two kids, but make sure you give them a good education” Until this day, my mother struggles to save for my tuition and books, besides other expenses.  You may say: “Well that’s unbelievable!”  Truth is that my mother has not bought a pair of pants for herself in almost 2- 3 years.  As I mentioned before, my mother is the type of woman that puts her daughters above anything else.  She is my reason to continue my educational odyssey, her sacrifices, her encouragement, the fact that she left behind her mother and family to provide me a better way of living.  She risked her life having only one thing in mind: Me!  I want to be someone in life and own my own business to give back to her a little of the immense support and help that she has given me.

In order to achieve my educational goals I need to persevere due to my immigration status.  The DREAM Act is my only hope, and I am sure that there’s a large amount of immigrant students that feel the same way!  Therefore this is not only MY DREAM, is YOUR DREAM, too… OUR DREAM!  Most people migrate to the United States in search of opportunities that are not offered in their homeland.  In addition, this country is known as the “Land of Opportunity” however, the policies make of opportunities a dream.  Let our DREAM, be a REALITY.