Dreamer Scholarship by Lolah Alva Boutique

My name is Mitzary Rosales, and I am undocumented. Growing up I learned to resent that fact about myself. I despise the term 'undocumented.' This word taught me fear, shame, and guilt, but it also taught me strength, perseverance, and resilience. Despite the countless challenges, being undocumented has fueled my desire to succeed. From the moment we arrived in the United States in 2002 my parents made it clear that being undocumented meant we could not return to Mexico, and I could never tell anyone about our immigration status. In my early years here, being undocumented did not affect me as much. Aside from the frequent, sometimes frustrating question from friends, "Do you go to Mexico often?” which I never knew how to answer, I had a very normal childhood. I loved going to school and I was eager to learn English. At school I felt like everyone else, and being undocumented did not matter. This sense of normalcy allowed me to focus on excelling at school and for a while my status had little impact on my life. It wasn't until I started high school that I understood the impact of growing up undocumented. In 9th grade, I was diagnosed with cancer, and that is when I realized how much my lack of status limited the resources available to me. It was also during this time that my resentment for being undocumented began to take root. I felt guilty for putting my parents in an impossible financial situation and ashamed when hospital staff would ask about insurance or how we could proceed with treatment without proper coverage. My frustration with my immigration status intensified as I watched my friends reach milestones like getting their driver's licenses, applying for jobs, and looking into colleges. Not being able to move forward with them made me angry, as if no matter how hard I tried, I was stuck. Despite this anger and the many obstacles in my way, I made it my personal goal to attend college. I saw education as a way to prove that my undocumented status would not determine my future. My college journey has been long and challenging. Due to financial barriers, and lack of aid it is taking me twice as long to complete my degree. However, I chose to pursue higher education as a way to prove that my undocumented status is not an obstacle in my path. Today, I attend the University of Central Florida, where I am pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. For me, education has always been the key to achieving my goals. Growing up, school was the one place where I felt seen and heard, where my undocumented status did not matter. This is why I aspire to become a teacher. I want to create an inclusive learning environment where all students, especially those like me, feel safe and valued. Winning this scholarship will help ease the financial burden and allow me to focus on my studies. More importantly, this scholarship will impact the hundreds of students that will come through my classroom, many of whom come from backgrounds like mine. It will show them that higher education is achiavable. In conclusion, growing up undocumented has been challenging. Yet, it is these challenges that have fueled my determination to succeed. I am ready to face any barrier with resilience and courage. This scholarship will not only help me overcome the financial difficulties that come with being an undocumented student in the United States, but it will also get me a step closer to reaching my goals.