For Immediate Release: September 4, 2020
Contact: Gaby Rodriguez at [email protected]
“Mars” of Hunter College is TheDream.US’ “DREAMer of the Week”
Washington, DC – TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college access and success program for undocumented immigrant youth, is continuing its “DREAMer of the Week” feature – a weekly profile of a TheDream.US Scholar whose story offers a powerful example of the incalculable contributions of DREAMers to America.
This week’s DREAMer is “Mars” a Scholar of Hunter College:
My little brother is my motivation, as well as my parents are my main motivation – I want to be a role model for him to fight for his dreams as our parents showed us. In college, I hope to discover my path. My current interests are synthetic biology and computer science – or maybe medical school, but I haven’t decided on my future career. I want to grow as a person and become the best I can be, because, no matter the job, I want to be the best in the field. A college degree will also let me provide for my brother and my parents. My parents deserve the world for all they have done for me. My entire life, my parents have told me the key to success is to work hard in school.
My parents are both from Guerrero Puebla, Mexico, and their highest level of education is elementary school. My parents brought me to the United States when I was just two years old, so I don’t remember anything from Mexico. It is incredible to think I was nearly born in the United States. My mom got pregnant here, but she decided to return to Mexico. She thought Mexico would be the best place to raise me, but there were very limited job opportunities. With no income stream, we were forced to move back to the United States to work.
I am thankful my parents were able to restart our lives here, and I admire them greatly, as they had to support themselves as well as their children. They have pushed through a lot, and they have pretty steady jobs. Adjusting to the US was not hard for me, since I never noticed the hardships we were going through. My parents tried their best to make sure I was happy and not missing anything.
My message to other DREAMers is to never give up even though you feel there’s no hope left. There are people who have kind hearts and want to help you, and you should take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.
_________________________
TheDream.US has provided over 6,500 college scholarships to DREAMers at more than 70 partner colleges in 16 states and Washington, DC.
The Scholars’ stories are especially powerful and poignant following the Supreme Court oral arguments on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an executive action, which provided temporary legal protection for undocumented youth, terminated by President Trump in September 2017. The legal limbo and uncertainty is affecting Scholars’ lives, health, and futures and threatens to keep Scholars from fulfilling their incredible potential.
- Read through TheDream.US Scholar story-bank, featuring powerful personal reflections from Scholars about their lives, journeys, and future goals here
- Hear from two TheDream.US graduates, now working as a teacher and a nurse, discussing the impact of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program online here
- Watch a new video featuring TheDream.US college graduates online here
###