"Si se puede" My grandpa has always told me since I was little. Born in Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico I was taught to be independent and caring of others. Leaving my birth country at five years old was the toughest challenge of my life. Fleeing from an abusive drug addict father and having to learn a new language adapting to the "American" life was an obstacle I learned to overcome by setting myself up for success at a young age. Never giving up and telling myself "Yes you can" each time I was close to giving up. Such hardship I've experienced during my last year of high school not being able to apply to certain scholarships or having the privilege of getting financial aid. I am not different from others, I am an immigrant with inspiring dreams of being a lawyer. A Latina in immigration law. I've always faced racism more so when I came to the USA. My first vivid memory of being discriminated against was when my kindergarten teacher told me I was "smelly" and "disgusting" for being Mexican and not speaking English, even accusing me of having lice and fleas because my hair was "long and dirty". Such hardship made me push further for a better education. I self -taught myself English, I picked up the language within a year. I've never been more proud of myself since. My well-spoken English has helped me get job opportunities, I am currently an employee at Old Navy. I work 20-25 hours a week in order to support my mother who barely manages to bring home $30,000 a year. I also teach my mother's friends kids English, kids with dreams like me. I risk my exhaustion and sleep in order to help my mom, despite this I prioritize my studies and my mother is very supportive of me wanting to pursue my big dream of becoming a lawyer, despite the urges we have of getting anty sort of financial aid. Every day I wake up, I tell myself "Si se puede Joselyn" I get reminded of my grandpa and how he got his residency the same year he passed. And all I can think about is that he wasn't there to treasure such opportunity. Same opportunity I want to help myself and others experience. I want families to be united, I want others to have the oppourtunity to strive in the USA. We are all dreamers with big dreams like me, which is why I tell myself "Si se puede" at the end of each hardship I face.