http://www.equaljusticesociety.org/2007/08/dream-act-part-ii/ The Equal Justice Society is a national legal organization focused on restoring Constitutional safeguards against discrimination. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:25:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.equaljusticesociety.org/2007/08/dream-act-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-185 miguelangelitocom Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:39:38 +0000 http://motleyfellow.org/archives/28#comment-185 As an undocumented immigrant student, I sometimes feel handicapped. When I was thirteen, I left my country and came to America to live with my father. I didn’t know English. My parents were divorced and I helped take of my younger siblings. But most difficult of all is the fact that I did not have any papers. Because of this, I don’t have the same chance to get a higher education. However, I have learned to embrace this situation because it makes me strong. I have begun to think that difficulties make me a better person, able to overcome anything in the way of my success. They make me creative, determined, and more motivated to find solutions for students like me. Every day, I think about what will happen in my future. I study so hard to get better grades. I am involved in school activities and the other Community Centers in Stamford. But it is not enough. Sometimes I can't sleep because my mind is working so hard trying to figure out how to make my dreams reality. I want to go to college because it is my only chance to build my future so that I can to help my community by making projects to improve our society. I can see the light at the end of my road. I am pretty sure that our community would improve if we worked together to accomplish our goals. That is why I started to get people together to support the federal DREAM Act. It will give non-documented students the opportunity to get permanent residency and to have access to financial aid. This will enable them to attain a higher education. That is my goal. To accomplish my goal, I started to form a network with diverse clubs at Greenwich High School. I also spoke to neighboring schools in Port Chester and Stamford. In addition, I have contacted many public officials such as Congressman Felipe Reinoso, Stamford’s Mayor Dan Malloy, and even President Bush. I have persuaded people to join my cause by appealing not only to their minds, but also to their hearts. I approached them with sentiment and resolution in order to captivate their intellect and motivation. I told them about friends of mine like Julie, a brilliant student who does not have the money to pay for college nor the papers to apply for scholarships. I explained how they could help and the positive results their actions would bring to the community. The word is spreading. The Spanish Club (Vision) is having meetings with the Parent-Teacher Association in order to get support for the Dream Act. We are coordinating with the Spanish Honor Society and making them aware of our fellow students’ dilemma. When I came to this amazing country, it wasn’t my decision to come undocumented. Nevertheless, I grew up in the United States of America. I feel that this is my country and I love it. I just want an opportunity to succeed. Throughout this experience, I have learned that motivation is not enough. I have come to understand that planning, coordination, and preparation is essential when addressing different groups of people simultaneously. I know that during this process many doors will be closed. However, when I find a closed door, I will find two more open! As an undocumented immigrant student, I sometimes feel handicapped. When I was thirteen, I left my country and came to America to live with my father. I didn’t know English. My parents were divorced and I helped take of my younger siblings. But most difficult of all is the fact that I did not have any papers. Because of this, I don’t have the same chance to get a higher education. However, I have learned to embrace this situation because it makes me strong. I have begun to think that difficulties make me a better person, able to overcome anything in the way of my success. They make me creative, determined, and more motivated to find solutions for students like me.
Every day, I think about what will happen in my future. I study so hard to get better grades. I am involved in school activities and the other Community Centers in Stamford. But it is not enough. Sometimes I can’t sleep because my mind is working so hard trying to figure out how to make my dreams reality. I want to go to college because it is my only chance to build my future so that I can to help my community by making projects to improve our society.
I can see the light at the end of my road. I am pretty sure that our community would improve if we worked together to accomplish our goals. That is why I started to get people together to support the federal DREAM Act. It will give non-documented students the opportunity to get permanent residency and to have access to financial aid. This will enable them to attain a higher education. That is my goal.
To accomplish my goal, I started to form a network with diverse clubs at Greenwich High School. I also spoke to neighboring schools in Port Chester and Stamford. In addition, I have contacted many public officials such as Congressman Felipe Reinoso, Stamford’s Mayor Dan Malloy, and even President Bush.
I have persuaded people to join my cause by appealing not only to their minds, but also to their hearts. I approached them with sentiment and resolution in order to captivate their intellect and motivation. I told them about friends of mine like Julie, a brilliant student who does not have the money to pay for college nor the papers to apply for scholarships. I explained how they could help and the positive results their actions would bring to the community. The word is spreading. The Spanish Club (Vision) is having meetings with the Parent-Teacher Association in order to get support for the Dream Act. We are coordinating with the Spanish Honor Society and making them aware of our fellow students’ dilemma.
When I came to this amazing country, it wasn’t my decision to come undocumented. Nevertheless, I grew up in the United States of America. I feel that this is my country and I love it. I just want an opportunity to succeed. Throughout this experience, I have learned that motivation is not enough. I have come to understand that planning, coordination, and preparation is essential when addressing different groups of people simultaneously. I know that during this process many doors will be closed. However, when I find a closed door, I will find two more open!

]]> http://www.equaljusticesociety.org/2007/08/dream-act-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Nicholas Espiritu Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:52:23 +0000 http://motleyfellow.org/archives/28#comment-184 Thank you for the additional links and information Dreamie! I think you raise important points about who are community and advocacy organizations accountable to. How does the decision making process occur? Where are compromises needed to ensure the possibility of change, and how are those compromises decided upon? Thank you for the additional links and information Dreamie! I think you raise important points about who are community and advocacy organizations accountable to. How does the decision making process occur? Where are compromises needed to ensure the possibility of change, and how are those compromises decided upon?

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