Unfulflled dreams

BY HAYLEE HUYNH Co-Feature Editor

A letter comes in the mail. Enclosed in a thick, white envelope with a collegiate logo printed at the top, the words reveal that you were accepted into your top choice university. You run from the mailbox to your house and tell your parents about how you got in, and how excited you are, and how you weren’t expecting to make it this far.

Then, your parents are forced to tell you that you’re undocumented, and that you don’t have a Social Security number to apply for financial aid or get a job, and that there is no way for you to pay for tuition.

This is the story of many undocumented students in America, and the original reason Dream Club Advisor Jane Slater established the club in 2008.

“Before the California Dream Act and DACA they weren’t able to work, really, and they weren’t able to get any scholarships at all, or any financial aid from the government,” Slater said. “And that just seemed so unfair that these kids had worked so hard and learned a second language and then [had] been accepted into four year schools, and still had to work their way, slowly, through community college and a four year school.”

To supplement the additional resources that have been implemented after it’s creation, Dream Club continues to provide financial assistance and grants for undocumented students at Sequoia, but they focus on emotional safety for students as well.

“We as a club [try] to create a safe space for students,” Slater said. “Many students are told never to reveal their documentation status or legal status, or they feel scared to say anything. So we try to create a safe space, try to create support, [and] make everyone realize they’re not alone.”

To combine the goals of financial support and forming an inclusive community, Dream Club has two major events in the fall and spring semester. Through planning these events and seeing their impact, club members feel a sense of fulfillment in their work.

“I really like seeing how we plan out the events and [...] how many people actually show up and take the time out of their day to really learn about undocumented people and learn about the way that they themselves can support our community,” Abel Chavez, junior and Dream Club student leader, said.

The club is open for everyone to collaborate and learn from each other, leading to a more welcoming and understanding Sequoia community for those who make the effort.

“My hope is to better understand the idea of what a dreamer is. And though I don’t experience the same hardship, I want to understand to the most that I can what the experience of an undocumented person is in America,” junior and Dream Club member Xander Love said.

Although there is a tight-knit, supportive space within Dream Club members, there is still progress to be made in regards to Sequoia as a student body and institution.

“I don’t necessarily feel supported, but I don’t feel any type of hatred as well. I just feel like it’s kind of ignored and people are oblivious to it,” Denise Carillo, senior and Dream Club student leader, said. “I’ve had conversations with people that don’t really know about ISIS stomping at your door or any of the basic knowledge of being undocumented and what they face. It’s been really nice to go to Dream Club and to have people that understand those struggles.”

In order to improve Sequoia’s current predicament, Chavez and Kimberly Gopar, junior and Dream Club student leader, suggest that immigration, documentation and citizenship should be discussed more around campus.

“Right now it’s not really talked about unless you’re in this club. I don’t hear multiple people talking about it unless [they] have firsthand experience of coming here or being an exchange student or being an [English Language Development] student,” she said.

“A way that we can get people to talk about this is just having more teachers discuss the idea of immigration,” Chavez explained. “There’s lots of students here who actually don’t know they’re immigrants, and think that they’re actual US citizens because their parents don’t want to tell them. [...] So I think it’s good for students to know about [immigration] and to know more about themselves.”

Dream Club acknowledges the improvements to be made, and above all wants to instill pride and empower students on campus.

“Yes, it is a struggle to be undocumented or mixed status, but it’s also taught a lot of values to me personally,” Carillo said. “And I know lots of other people have been able to learn a lot and feel more in touch with their culture. So it’s not necessarily just a bad thing.”

Una carta viene en el correo. Adjunto en un sobre grueso y blanco con un logotipo universitario impreso en la parte superior, las palabras revelan que fue aceptado en su universidad preferida.

Usted corre desde el buzón de correo a su casa y le dice a sus padres cómo entró, lo entusiasmado que está y cómo no esperaba llegar hasta aquí.

Luego, sus padres se ven obligados a decirle que usted es indocumentado, y que no tiene un número de Seguro Social para solicitar ayuda financiera o conseguir un trabajo, y que no hay manera de pagar la matrícula.

Esta es la historia de muchos estudiantes indocumentados en los Estados Unidos, y fue la razón original por la que la asesora de Dream Club, Jane Slater, estableció el club en 2008.

“Antes de la California Dream Act y la DACA no podían trabajar, en realidad, y no podían obtener ninguna beca ni ninguna ayuda financiera del gobierno”, dijo Slater. “Y eso parecía tan injusto que estos estudiantes habían trabajado tan duro y aprendido una segunda lengua y luego [habían] sido aceptados en universidades de cuatro años, y aún tenían que trabajar a su manera, lentamente, a través del colegio comunitario y después una universidad de cuatro años”.

Para complementar los recursos adicionales que se han implementado después de su creación, Dream Club continúa proporcionando asistencia financiera y subvenciones para estudiantes indocumentados en Sequoia, pero también se enfocan en la seguridad emocional para los estudiantes.

“Nosotros como club [tratamos] de crear un espacio seguro para los estudiantes”, dijo Slater. “A muchos estudiantes se les dice que nunca revelen su estado de documentación o estado legal, o tengan temor de decir algo. Así que intentamos crear un espacio seguro, tratamos de crear apoyo, [y] hacemos que todos se den cuenta de que no están solos”.