Fifteen years ago, my parents decided to leave our poor home in Mexico and come to the US in hopes of a better education for my older brother and me. I was separated from my brother’s arm to be smuggled in as a girl into the country at the age of two. My parents arrived in the US with pocket change and a lack of English skills. My brother and I have had to constantly help them with translations and help them navigate the bureaucracy. As I grew up, I saw my parents struggle to live as they would go hungry just so I could eat. They would destroy their bodies at work to make enough money to raise me. They would work long hours and live with the constant risk of deportation to give my brother and me an education. I would see my parents break down in tears because the people who had raised them had died and they were not able to return to Mexico to say goodbye. Unfortunately, an obstacle of mine is being undocumented. This has prevented me from applying to many jobs or applying to certain scholastic programs. Access to things like healthcare has been limited. I’ve watched my uncles get deported at a young age and know that it could have been me or my parents. This made me fear for my life. President Trump’s propaganda against immigrants acted as evidence to my status in the US, that I could never shoot big and that I’d be stuck working a labor job. This used to be very demoralizing as it used to make me feel inferior to others. At one point, I believed this and thought my destiny was to work a labor job. However, now I know that I will overcome this issue and prove that I’m not just another labor worker, but a student that has been striving for success. As a child, I grew up with the fear of not being accepted not only as an undocumented immigrant but also as someone who is gay .I feared being pushed away by the people that I loved. As a result, I pushed any feelings I had away and believed that I could pray them away. Nevertheless, with the help of people around me, I realized that it's a part of my identity and how I love — and I take pride in that. By being a bisexual man, I’ve learned that things are not always black and white. Determined to gain an education, I’ll be able to get a job well enough to retire my parents which will enable them to prioritize their health. I want to help my parents return to Mexico, their home, and visit people they have not seen in over 16 years. My parents leaving their home in Mexico to avoid poverty for me has caused me to strive. To realize the value of education so that I become prosperous and not live the struggle my parents did.

Pink blanket, pink pants, pink bottle, pink bib. That was what I was wearing when I was separated from my brother’s arm to be smuggled in as a girl into the country at the age of two. Fifteen years ago, my parents decided to leave our poor home in Mexico and come to the US in hopes of a better education for my older brother and me. My parents arrived in the US with pocket change and a lack of English skills. My brother and I have had to constantly help them with translations and help them navigate the bureaucracy. As I grew up, I saw my parents struggle to live as they would go hungry just so I could eat. They would destroy their bodies at work to make enough money to raise me. They would work long hours and live with the constant risk of deportation to give my brother and me an education. I would see my parents break down in tears because the people who had raised them had died and they were not able to return to Mexico to say goodbye. Unfortunately, an obstacle of mine is being undocumented. This has prevented me from applying to many jobs or applying to certain scholastic programs. Access to things like healthcare has been limited. I’ve watched my uncles get deported at a young age and know that it could have been me or my parents. This made me fear for my life. President Trump’s propaganda against immigrants acted as evidence to my status in the US, that I could never shoot big and that I’d be stuck working a labor job. This used to be very demoralizing as it used to make me feel inferior to others. At one point, I believed this and thought my destiny was to work a labor job. However, now I know that I will overcome this issue and prove that I’m not just another labor worker, but a student that has been striving for success. As a child, I grew up with the fear of not being accepted not only as an undocumented immigrant but also as someone who is gay .I feared being pushed away by the people that I loved. As a result, I pushed any feelings I had away and believed that I could pray them away. Nevertheless, with the help of people around me, I realized that it's a part of my identity and how I love — and I take pride in that. By being a bisexual man, I’ve learned that things are not always black and white. Determined to gain an education, I’ll be able to get a job well enough to retire my parents which will enable them to prioritize their health. I want to help my parents return to Mexico, their home, and visit people they have not seen in over 16 years. My parents leaving their home in Mexico to avoid poverty for me has caused me to strive. To realize the value of education so that I become prosperous and not live the struggle my parents did