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Sometimes I feel undocumented by Brandon Greene
As I was listening to the NPR Program tell me more, I found myself surprisingly engaged in a story that dealt with undocumented college students. As the stories of these talented students began to unfold, I couldn’t help but see striking similarities between their stories and mine. Now of course I am not an undocumented student, but we share similar struggles. They were brought to this country against their will because their families were looking for better lives. My ancestors were also brought to this country against their will. These students worked hard and excelled in hopes that they would have the opportunity to attend college. I did the same, even earning college credit while in high school. Their dream was that college would put them in a position to be able to provide for their families and set an example. My dream was that college would allow me to continue the legacy of my family and escape the ills of the inner city. All have fulfilled the dream of becoming college educated and some are continuing on with masters degrees and even doctorates. I am starting my graduate program next month. After all their hard work and dedication, they are unable to secure jobs because they’re not citizens. After all my hard work I am unable to secure a job because of “lack of experience”, and I am unable to secure certain internships because I already possess an undergraduate degree. We are all being deprived of what we have been told is the attainable American Dream. I was taught that if I go to school and excel that the world is my oyster, however me and the undocumented college graduates of UCLA of both found this line of thinking to be a false hood.
