Country of Origin: Mexico
Age of Arrival: 2 years old
Hometown: California
Degree: Social Work/Journalism
I want to make something of myself to inspire my little brother, and to make my parents proud when
they see me in my cap and gown. Overall, I want my family to know the sacrifices they made have paid
off. In order to do all of that, I need a college degree. I now have that chance thanks to TheDream.US.
TheDream.US provided me with the financial aid I needed to transfer to San Francisco State University.
Here, I will continue my education as a social work major with a minor in journalism. My dream is to
service with my community through social work and case management. Soon I will pursue a PhD, but for
now I will work on earning my bachelor’s degree and then my master’s in social work. I deserve that
opportunity, just as much as any citizen.
As a DACA recipient, my journey to higher education has not been easy, nor was it guaranteed. I was a
junior in high school when I discovered that I was undocumented. One afternoon my friends and I had
been working on college applications. When we were filing for FAFSA, I realized I needed a social
security number…but I did not have one. In this moment, I felt my heartbreak and my dreams shatter.
Due to my documentation status, I was not eligible for any kind of federal financial aid. I was just as
eager for college, as my two American-born best friends, but I thought that opportunity was stolen from
- When I arrived home that evening, I did my best to hold back my tears as I told my parents I could
no longer go to college because it was too expensive. I felt ashamed.
I loved high school. I had amazing teachers that always inspired me to do my best work. I was on the
school’s leadership team. I also participated in the Puente program, a program that helped
underrepresented populations transfer to college. I thought I would love college too. It never occured to
me that I would not start school the fall after my senior year, like all of my friends would.
In 2013, I began community college. I knew I had to continue my education, yet I was worried about
how vulnerable I was because of my immigration status. My time in community college was challenging,
but I remained resilient. I experienced family separation and faced homelessness, all while I served as
editor-in-chief for my college’s newspaper. It took some trial and error to determine my path to success,
but, after 5 years of community college, I will finally be transferring and continue my education. I am
thrilled TheDream.US has given me the chance to accomplish my dreams.