Currently attending the masters program of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Utah.

For a very long time I felt isolated and ashamed of a part of my identity. When I learned I was undocumented it was stressed to me that I should never tell anyone of my status and my family's. This caused me to grow up feeling as if there was not a safe space for my family and I. I felt like I could not connect with others on a deeper level because of this secret I had to keep. Later in adolescence I began to realize and recognize not only the emotional distress that comes from being undocumented but
also the oppressions and lack of equality that comes with it too. I lived in fear of not only exposing myself but also fearing that I would not be able to accomplish the goals that I had set. There were many times I wanted to just give up and let this label take over my life. After my first semester of college I felt overwhelmed with the feeling of giving up. I was not doing well in school and was not happy with having to work excessive hours at a low paying job to be able to barely afford school. I was then approached by wonderful women who explained to me what Davis Dreamers was. Davis Dreamers would not only help me with financial support and scholarships to be able to continue with school, but it was also an organization of other undocumented students. Up to that day I had never met another student or individual who was undocumented or at least not that I knew of. At first I was skeptical to expose my situation to the organization and be vulnerable, but once I decided to take a leap of faith my whole life changed. Not only did I have mentors
and people who saw my potential and believed in me, but now I had a safe space where everyone including myself could share their insecurities and concerns of life. I began to trust others and realize that not everyone who is not in my situation is trying to put my family or myself in danger. I began to develop hope that I could accomplish the same goals and that life could change in the future for us undocumented individuals. I developed the confidence and resilience to continue to face the challenges that life brought knowing that I had a support system to back me up. Davis Dreamers is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I am so blessed to have been able to be part of this organization.