Ever since I started college, I always had to face more struggles than other students. My freshman year I was afraid I would not be able to return for second semester because I could not pay for it. Even with my 3.8 GPA at the time, and all the multiple extracurricular activities, I still could not get any financial aid from the government. I was afraid to go ask for help because I did not know who in the school was an ally to DREAMers. My lifelong dream of getting an education was slipping away like water running through my fingers. I was losing hope and felt like it was not worth it anymore. Why struggle so much? Why work three times as hard just to see if maybe I would return? I felt hopeless and alone.
In the Northern Illinois University Latino Resource Center I found my salvation. Even if each year the story repeats itself, I know I will come back as long as I work hard in school and stay involved because I have the support of staff members, DREAM Action NIU, and other allies. I consider myself lucky because not many DREAMers have the strength to look for help; they just give up.
Last Tuesday, October 27, 2013 I was given the opportunity to be at a historical event for NIU. NIU’s President Baker came out and in front of the media and agreed to help DREAMers. This means many DREAMers to come will not have to go through the struggles that I did. Discrimination will decrease and hopefully we will get financial aid as well as emotional support.
During the event I was the only undocumented person in the panel. I represented all the DREAMers at NIU. I felt honored to be selected for this historical event sponsored by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition and NIU. As a 21 year-old woman with a learning disability, I was shocked to be selected. I told them my story, how I came here, and how I was raised in a violent neighborhood. I informed them that I graduated in top 20 of 1,100 students in my high school. I spoke of my involvement in the executive board of the first Latin Honor Society at NIU. I mentioned that I am a mentor for other students through various groups and that I am in the Honors Program at NIU. During the summer time I worked three jobs, went to school and interned at VISANOW. Even with all this I informed them that I still struggle to come back each semester. President Baker acknowledged that the school does need to help us.
“It should not be this difficult for a student like Christian to get an education,” President Baker said. The other members of the panel were Billy Lawless, chair of the Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform, Emily Gray, executive director of World Relief, Manny Sanchez , chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Employment Law Forum, and Lauren Carini, student at Wheaton College.
It has been a short journey for me. Two years ago I was living a double life not letting anybody know that I was undocumented. I was afraid of applying to DACA and I did not even know if I would finish my first year at NIU. Today I am two years from graduating with honors from one of the best business schools in the Midwest. I have fought for a voice to be heard not only for myself but for my people, for my family. As a DREAMer I am not the problem, I am one of the millions of solutions. To other DREAMers struggling like me, I tell you do not lose hope. Never let anybody tell you it’s impossible. On behalf of DREAM Action NIU and all DREAMers that attend NIU I thank President Baker for his support.