This is a blog for the many students who live today in a world of conflicting messages. For the students who feel American but are told they are not. For the students who feel pressure to succeed in school not knowing if good grades and test scores will be enough to make it to college. For the students who feel pressure to drop out and earn a living if graduation is not worth it. For the students who feel dual pressures of assimilation and cultural retention. This is a blog for immigrant students in Wisconsin.
For example, Marcos is an undocumented high school junior in Milwaukee. In addition to school he works third shift at a factory every night to help support his family. Though he doesn’t get much sleep he studies hard because he wants to go college. Yet, as an undocumented student, he knows that he has limited options. No federal aid, out of state tuition rates, no student loans and all the entrance exams and applications in his second language - these are just a few of the obstacles standing before him. It is a lot of pressure for one 16 year old to take.
Elena is an undocumented college student- she pays her tuition up front because she doesn’t qualify for federal loans. She wants to be a teacher, but faces a race against time. All teachers must go through a criminal background check which requires a social security number. She is in process of adjusting her status, but has no idea how long it will take. It could be years before she can use her degree. When asked why she continues, she says it is because she values knowledge and is passionate about education. Regardless of whether she can use her degree, no one can take that education away from her.
Miguel is a senior at a private high school in Milwaukee. His family has been here for 18 years. His siblings were born here. His father is a naturalized citizen. When his father was naturalized, no one explained the process for naturalizing Miguel as well, which essentially rendered him the only one in his family who is undocumented. He has since petitioned for residency but is caught in a lengthy backlog. He has no idea how long it will take.
These vignettes represent a small handful of the hundreds of stories and the myriad of dreams held among immigrant students in Wisconsin. It is near impossible to know if theirs will be dreams achieved or dreams deferred, but in many measures the odds are stacked against them. This blog gives a voice to their perspectives. Though posting will come through Voces de la Frontera, authors will be varied. This blog asks, “what is it like to be an immigrant student in Wisconsin?” Community advocates, students and teachers will share their thoughts. Readers are invited to comment and all comments will be posted so long as they are not profane or racially offense and do not make personal attacks. If you would like to submit a story, please contact Melanie Benesh, Melanie@vocesdelafrontera.net
