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Dare to Dream:
My Struggle for Higher
Education
It has only been four
and a half years since I
came to the United
States, enough time for
me to experience the
most incredible and
drastic changes I could
have ever imagined. A
tear running on my cheek
as the giant Mexican
flag moved showed the
sadness I felt leaving
my native country. As
ironic as it sounds, I
did not know it was the
beginning of a journey
filled with obstacles in
the land of opportunity
The summer before my
senior year in high
school, I arrived to
Kansas State University
through a program called
Beyond the Boundaries. I
suspected that not being
a U.S. citizen was going
to be a problem.
Uncertain if my legal
status would affect my
qualification in
receiving financial aid
and attend college, I
asked the program
director and mentors
about it, unfortunately
they were not able to
give me answers. It was
a challenging moment in
my life, but I kept
going.
Taking classes that
required a lot of
writing was challenging.
During my senior year in
high school I took a
journalism class, I
struggled a bit but with
the use of a dictionary
I was able to write good
stories. I remember
writing a piece on the
difficulties immigrant
students face in
obtaining a higher
education. After
interviewing Melinda
Lewis, from El Centro, I
realized that
undocumented immigrant
students would not be
eligible for federal
financial aid and that
any university in the
state would admit them
as international
students with all the
fees associated with
their status.
After realizing how the
system works, I wanted
to do something. So, I
testified at the Capital
in Topeka and began to
attend forums related to
immigrant students’
education. It was my
belief that my community
leaders’ initiatives,
immigrant people’s
voices, and my school
efforts were not in vain.
By
the end of my senior
year—with graduation
just a few weeks away—my
future after high school
was still uncertain.
Then, I received a call
from Melinda Lewis, her
words were “We won!” I
understood. A door had
just been opened for all
undocumented immigrant
students in Kansas.
Finally, we would have
the opportunity to pay
in-state tuition to any
university in the state
as long as we had lived
and graduated from a
high school in Kansas. I
screamed, cried, jumped,
and to this date I
celebrate the victory
that I proudly carry
with me every time I
walk on campus.
Sometimes I feel
frightened because I
know that there is a
movement to repeal the
law and that many other
states across the
country still prevents
undocumented students
from obtaining a higher
education. However, I
will continue to pursue
my dream in becoming an
architect.
Since my freshman year
at Kansas State
University, I have
brought awareness about
immigrant students’
struggles to further
their education. I have
found a supportive group
of students and faculty,
and together, we have
taken further steps to
be part of national
efforts in solving
issues immigrants face.
We have started the
first scholarship fund
for undocumented
immigrant students. |
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Left to right: Andrea’s
parents, Victor and
Leticia Pardo, Andrea,
and mentors. Professor
Susanne Siepl-Coates and
Medlen Simon; developing
scholar program
coordinator, Anita
Cortez and principal of
Commerce bank. |
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I
have organized two DREAM
Act forums in which a
panel of students,
including myself, and
local authorities speak
our opinions on this
proposal. Currently, I
am part of a coalition
of youth leaders,
students, and DREAM Act
advocates who have
strategize a plan to
make the passing of the
DREAM possible.
Certainly, I will never
stop speaking about
immigrants’ issues as I
am one of them and a
very fortunate one.
By Andrea L. Pardo |
