College Experience
"UC Berkeley was a very nice experience and a bit bitter too. I went in as a Political Science major and somehow handle to graduate with a BA in political science. My first semester was very difficult and although a lot of the people who started with me under the same major moved to different majors, I decided to stick with political science. It was a difficult major for me because there's a lot of writing and heavy reading and I feel I was lacking basic skills due to my upbringing. I did my elementary, middle school and part of my high school back in El Salvador. When I came here, I didn't know a word in English. It was in high school where I had to learn not only to speak it, but to read it and understand it. Three years after my first year in high school I graduated and went to Chabot Community College. Chabot definitely provided me with new tools and helped me refine my English. I feel my English improved at Chabot and with it my ability to write and read. However, most of my classmates grew up reading in English, writing in English and so things were not as difficult for them as they were for me. I tried my best despite my language barrier and despite my disconnection to the culture and the politics in this country.
My situation got more difficult due to personal problems back home. It became difficult to focus in school. I commuted every day to school and the commuting became tiring and stressful. My second year at Berkeley I was diagnosed with anxiety. I got a severe case of anxiety that was characterized by constant panic attacks. I started missing classes because I was so sick there were times I was afraid to ride BART; I was afraid to leave home. Other times, I got myself to go to school, but had to leave in a middle of a class because I had a sudden panic attack. It made me so sad to see I was not the same anymore. I felt useless. Yet, I knew what I wanted and neither my problems at home nor my panic attacks stopped me from achieving my goals. I know that a lot of my problems came as part of my life as an immigrant, but I’m proud to be one because it is thanks to my story as an immigrant that I am the person I am today.
The day of my graduation was a day of victory for I had survived the adversities that came along the way. I was proud of what I had done; it was not easy. I felt as if I had been dragging my feet to the finish line, but with the help of many good people I moved forward a step at a time. I had accomplished something no one in my family had accomplished before, and with that not only I had overcame my obstacles, but I had set an example for my siblings and the youth in my community.
In spite of all the difficulties I have faced along the way, I am proud of my journey, which I could only have walked as an immigrant woman."
-Anonymous
First Generation Student
"Growing up being the first person in my family to be born in America I didn't necessarily know I was different until I started school. My skin, hair, eyes, the way I spoke, the language I spoke, and even the food I ate was foreign and a source of ridicule for the 'diverse' community around me. It was a fight growing confidence in myself, in school, in my beauty, and in my dreams. Today I am going to the university of my dreams, happy as can be with all of my life; different tongue, hair, skin, food and all. If I have any advice (not that I'm qualified to give it) to the same little girl I was almost 20 years ago it would be to not let your originality be a source of insecurity. Wear your colors, your race, your face proudly."
-Anonymous
My Life
"I was born in December 15 1980 in Puebla Mexico. I had the privilege to grow up with my grandma, Constanza Monterrosas. Growing up, I went to school in my hometown at the same time I learned how to work in the agriculture. After that, my transition to junior high, in to the city was challenging, different culture, at early age I start developing myself as a business owner, I always love to make money, but education is very important to me so I was working and going to school. in 1999 I immigrate to USA Illegally, I work in different jobs, In 2007 I got married, In 2015 I got separated from my wife, in 2017 I am officially divorce, I am actually a business owner and I have a beautiful girlfriend That I love very much. Born as a Martin Duran Bernardo, in December 15, 1980, I was the last child of four of Julia Bernardo and Miguel Duran, after I was born My oldest brother died, A few weeks later my mom died, My dad become an alcoholic, to the point where he couldn't control himself. I raised by my grandma, what a privilege for me to be protect by her, as I was growing up I start going to school in my hometown and at early age, I was working in the agriculture field, I love to work specially if I am making money, later on, I start going to junior high in the city, which I never was in the city by myself, so I got lots my first day, after asking people where should I go, I found a way to get home. By that time I need to make money expenses were increasing, My uncle teach me how to shine shoes, so that was my very first business, 7 months later I change jobs, I started working with a doctor, at the same time that I was going to school, I learned a lot of things with him, (how to drive cars, I help him to deliver babies) working with him, I learn a few things in the medical field, after I finish High school, I present my exam to the university three times, I didn't pass, I was very sad, but it was time for me to move forward. My desire to explore different culture, experiences, had me to take the decision to immigrate to USA, I told my grandma, I am leaving to USA I need your blessing, she was very sad. I cross the border Illegally, I got busted by immigration 3 times, finally I made it throw Tijuana border, I come to California to work for the American Dream. In 2003 start my business as a carpenter, What I do in my company, I built custom kitchen cabinets, we are 5 people working in the company including me. In 2007 I got married, with a extraordinary woman, we had a very excellent moment, I learn so much from her, she teach me how to emerge in the American culture very well, she support me in getting my legal status fix, I become legal resident because of my ex-wife, she transform my life, but there is things in life that you cannot change, she found out that she was a lesbian, very challenging moment for me and for her as well, but at the end we support each other, we conclude that the most important in life is to be happy and fulfill, I finally told her don't worry I got your back. she is happily living with her partner. I meet this beautifully woman that I am in love with. Right now I have the privilege to go to college, being a business owner, and my girlfriend and me are creating this future full of miracles, you never give up, when you are in the middle of a difficult situation, nothing make sense, but if you know what you really want and you have patience in the near future will make sense. My dad told me " if you are at one
point were life does not make sense remember me, I was homeless now I am a business person and married, so you get up pursue what you really want in life."
My Experience as an Immigrant
"Estefania was born in Tepatitlan, Jalisco and came to the United States at the age of six. This transition brought her to the Central Valley, where she has lived ever since. Her grandparents, aunts, and uncles were instrumental in fostering a space for her mother and sisters to thrive as they navigated the United States without legal status. Through their guidance and support she transferred from Modesto Junior College to the University of California Davis, where she recently graduated.
In Modesto she worked as a community organizer for the non-profit (CBC) Congregations Building Community, an affiliate of People Organizing Community through Organizing. Through this work, she met with Governor Jerry Brown to advocate for the signing of AB 60. She later spoke alongside the Governor during the signing of the bill in 2013.
In Davis she worked at the AB 540 and Undocumented Student Center and used the time at Davis to attend various trainings and forums to sharpen her skills as an organizer, professional, and advocate for immigrant communities. She hopes to continue to do transformative work to more accurately represent the great power immigrant communities have in the United States and across the world."
My Immigrant Story
"My name is Carolina Martinez I came to the United States nine years ago on a tourist visa but I overstayed and became an undocumented immigrant. My entire life I had lived with my grandmother and after she passed away I could not stay in Mexico due to my depression. Thus, I left everything I knew behind, including my family, and came to the United States in search for a better future. Instead, I was faced with racism and discrimination. During this time I was taking classes at Berkeley Adult School in order to receive my GED. The problem was that I still had nowhere to go and ended up homeless. I spent the following three years moving from house to house, begging friends to let me stay with them. During this time I was also looking for work in order to pay for my education but even this proved to be a challenge due to my language barrier. I attempted to enroll in college in efforts of furthering my education but realized that my undocumented status haunted me. I was informed that I would not be able to apply for any financial aid and resources.
I decided to put myself through school and I worked various jobs that paid me under the table due to my undocumented status, but my goal was to live my dream no matter what happened. I worked in various jobs but I was never able to find stable work. This led me to continuously dropping out and returning to college. Demoralized in this society, one day I had a break and was offered the position of assistant supervisor for a janitorial company. I was finally able to find what I was looking for which was stable work and good pay. I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to finally work full time. Unfortunately, this was short lived because ICE had come to the location of my employment and demanded the records of the employees. I lost my job and I became depressed, frustrate and hopeless. Time passed and things got worse. I found another job where I had to work late at night. One day coming home from work about 1 am in the morning I got off of BART and was walking up the escalator and a male attempted to steal my phone and aggressively punched me, pulled my hair and hit me with a metal u-lock on my head. I fell to the floor and was knocked unconscious. I ended up in the emergency room with a cracked head that required eight stiches and various cuts and bruises.
After that incident my life completely changed. I realized that I came to the US to escape my pain and now I was again confronted with a new reality, which I wanted to run from. I did some research and found out about the U visa. A visa for those who have been victims of violent crimes, this was a new opportunity for my life. I worked to pay an attorney for his services and applied for the U-Visa. After a year and a half, I received my U-Visa. Oddly, something good had come from that traumatic event I lived. Now, I am enrolled in Merritt and Berkeley City College to be able to transfer to SFSU with a POSC major because my dream is to be a lawyer and be able to help my community."
