POST-HIGH SCHOOL, NEW BEGINNINGS:

A survival Guide for Undocumented Youth

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 ROUTES OF OPPORTUNITY Undocumented vs. Illegal- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Multiple Routes of Opportunity- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Vocational/Trade Schools- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Community Colleges- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 Four-Year Colleges- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 Workforce- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 ACADEMICS College Paperwork- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 Navigating College- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12 Study Strategies- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13 RESOURCES AND TIPS Scholarships for College Students- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Summer Programs to Apply for- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Resume- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Legal Resources- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Health Services- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Domestic Flights- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Undocustories- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Immigrant Role Models- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Undocupick-up lines- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14 15 15 17 19 20 20 21 28

Electronic version:

undocuresources.blogspot.com

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INTRODUCTION
There are more than 1.5 million undocumented children currently living in the US. Yikes! This is only an estimate since many immigrant families go unreported. Although undocumented minors are only a small part of the total undocumented population in the US, it is still a large, important and growing force. But the big question is...so what? What will all those young men and women choose to do with their lives? Will they choose to work right out of high school? Will they take the educational route that few of their friends and family have chosen? We would love to talk to you about these options because a lot has changed only very recently, giving more undocumented high school students educational and work opportunities that were not as easily attainable in the past. Times are very hard for us immigrant families so it is not a mystery why a lot of immigrant high-schoolers do not think about education beyond high school. Obstacles like money, transportation, lack of support and other responsibilities, to name only a few, stop students from preparing for whats next after high school. Approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school each year and thats the bright side of the story since many undocumented friends and family do not get a diploma. In this guide we are going to delve into the possibilities after high school, including 3 major educational paths for students in California: 1.) Community Colleges, 2.) Vocational Schools (also known as Trade or Technical schools), and 3.) Four-Year Universities (Which can be both Private and Public). We will breakdown the pros and cons of each, so that based on your available resources and preferences, you can make the right choice for you. In addition we are going to showcase resources that exist that will help you pay for your education. Our guide will also help you find support through Undocumented networks and mentors and to keep a healthy and stable lifestyle. " Always remember that you are not the only one choosing this route. You are not alone. There are thousands of other students thinking what the hell am I going to do next? The fight is yours but not yours alone. Never let yourself get overwhelmed because theres hope. Many people have been in your situation, in your shoes, and have reached their goal. Remember, always, Si se Puede! David, Gabriela, and Xiomara

This guide was brought to you by:

Multicultural Community Center UC Berkeley Website: mcc.berkeley.edu blog: ucberkeleymcc.tumblr.com Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education Website: risescholars.berkeley.org

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UNDOCUMENTED VS. ILLEGAL ?

If you watch the news or read the newspapers, you will often see a the words undocumented and illegal. Most often, it is the word illegal that is used by media outlets, conservative and mainstream. Illegal here...illegal there We found the word pretty annoying back when we were your age...and we still find it annoying. We prefer to use the word undocumented instead, for many reasons. The difference between illegal and undocumented lays in the rhetoric of each term and in the social understanding behind them. You could see the term undocumented as more PC (politically correct). To be labeled ILLEGAL is to be described as permanently criminal in every way of being, almost as anonhuman. Its wrong. It portrays a negative image upon the person and those connected to that person. The term goes beyond what is legal and illegal. It goes as far as criminalizing every behavior, action, or intention of that person. Therefore, giving the

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Routes of opportunity

person an internal feeling of not belonging, of being alien, and of rejection despite that persons best efforts to make good with others. The term UNDOCUMENTED is more PC and a notch above illegal in terms of using a word to describe someone. It is more favored by those without papers who self-identify as such because it limits those false feelings of criminality and being a permanent outsider. It also helps bring understanding from people with papers because they see it from a more neutral stance toward Undocumented people than the I word. Undocumented is picking up in different academic, social spaces and even some mainstream news outlets but many older generations still use illegal to self-identify because that is all they knew growing up. It takes a moment to adjust and depending on the type of words the people around you use. We bring up this distinction not to tell you what you should or shouldnt say but to paint a better picture of the complexities of our situation. Choosing which word we use

to refer to ourselves can be a first step towards empowering ourselves.

Source: For more information visit Colorlines Drop the I-word campaign: http://colorlines.com/droptheiword/

MULTIPLE ROUTES OF OPPORTUNITY

After high school, you will find yourself at a crossroads with many pathways. You have to chose wisely and the question often is, Where do I go? If your circumstances allowed it, you have the option to attend a four-year college/university, but you may still have doubts as to what resources are available there. If, on the other hand, you were not fully equipped to apply to four-year colleges, you have the option to attend vocational/trade schools, a community college, or maybe even enter the workforce through DACA (which will be covered in another section). Decisions, decisions. It may be overwhelming, but this section is intended to provide you with a sense of what each of these options may entail and what resources you can use in the pursuit of any of these options. You will find an overview of vocational/ trade schools, community college, and four-year colleges (both private and public).
Source: The Wikipedia Foundation

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Vocational/trade schools
These educational programs prepare high school students for various career options. They offer courses and learning experiences that allow students to develop academic skills, technical knowledge, and other specialized skills needed for employment or advanced education in a particular field. Students must meet the requirements for high school graduation that other public high school students must meet, including passing certain credential tests such as CAS tests. The attraction that students find in trying out this route is in the fact that getting a degree can be very fast. Depending on the program (i.e.computer technology, nursing, mechanics) Applying as undocumented student Similar to community colleges, they may or may not accept based on having the proper documentation such as a Social Security card or a driver's license. Once again, it is important to check if the individual school will accept regardless of legal status. If the state you live in requires all vocational schools to not discriminate based on national origin and/or lack of documentation OR if the individual school you are interested in has a policy friendly program for undocumented students than you may look up the requirements needed for the program. Vocational technical high schools are allowed to decide how they will admit students to their programs. Schools can admit students on a first come - first serve basis; or they can use a lottery; or they can admit students based on these selection criteria: academic grades attendance record discipline and conduct record recommendation from the sending school student interview The negatives and positives of vocational schools/ trade schools (+) Often it is students with more hands-on abilities or interests that are intrigued by vocational schools. On paper, vocational and technical programs may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability. There are some states that will allow homeless students, undocumented students, disabled students, and students with limited English proficiency to attend but you should check out the individual school to make sure. If you want to get a degree and acquire specialized knowledge in a specific field in a short amount of time then you may benefit strongly from this route. A lot of these programs are numerous and spread out so it might be more convenient for someone looking for anything close by that is accepting lots of applicants.

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Source: The Wikipedia Foundation

(-)Students that aspire for professional occupations like in medicine or law should avoid these type of schools because it would be more costly and time consuming. Same goes for students that aspire for a more theoretical or multi-faceted job description because vocational schools offer very specific and specialized job training that is more narrow than common occupations. Some states do not have laws that protect undocumented students from rejection based on lack of documentation. A lot of complaints around these schools reside around extremely high fees and difficulty in finding jobs after degree completion, yet everyones experience with this varies tremendously. Some have had bad experiences of not finding jobs while others took full advantage and were able to secure a few options to choose from (especially those with great networking skills). Networking is a must for any route you take but if you decide to go down this route you should have a very strong networking background coming in so you have a better chance of finding a job regardless of being undocumented.

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Routes of opportunity

Pedros vocational school testimonial

My experience with trade schools wasnt a great one. I felt really disconnected in the program like just a random number. I felt like I was out on my own the whole time and I paid so much for it so I felt like I was being ripped off. I work with a furniture selling store near my home because my boyfriends family helped me get a job there with someones SSN. The money I earned there though was nowhere near enough to pay all my bills from the program as well as my personal bills. I was with the program for one semester because I saved up a lot of money but I quickly saw that I wouldnt be able to do it for longer. The program sucks because I feel like they dont care who you are as long as you pay all the bills and even if you finish they dont always help you transition from the program to finding jobs. Thats how I saw it anyways. I was in a technical program to learn more on computer logistics and codes. I really saw the opportunity in that program because a lot of jobs are asking for expertise in that field. I know I probably wouldnt be able to work with a big company because I dont have papers but I was thinking of something local. So when I chose to leave the program because I couldnt afford it I was hesitant about what to do. I didnt want to work at a furniture store all my life and risk being fired if they chose to ask for my social or something. I know I sometimes I have some trouble with science classes and readings but I know for sure that education is something I want to pursue. I have family that chose community college and I saw that some of them really got ahead through that route. I switched from trade school option to attempt to get an associates degree. Through community college I found way more scholarships for students without papers. I still felt a little disconnected at times but the fact that funding my classes wouldnt be as hard helped me get a grip. I plan to do something with technology or computers in the future but Im not sure yet in what way. There may be people out there in my situation who actually made it work with trade schools, but honestly I wouldnt recommend it. The only perk I see is that the schooling can be real fast. Some programs only take a year or two to complete so it really isnt that time consuming in terms of years. But there were too many negative sides like the high cost, little opportunities for funding, and feeling so alone. I am fortunate enough to have a job. Imagine the people who dont have a job at all or depend entirely on their parents to help them afford college? I even heard that in some states the trade schools require socials to even apply so that is another negative side. I recommend that any students still in high school try community college because they can get more funding if they apply to lots of scholarships and they can even find other students in the same situation to work with. Im not really a big university type of guy because I would feel kind lost and maybe Id lose concentration. But maybe after I finish community college Ill get more of a hand of things and feel better about transferring to a university. But Im going to take it slow first to make sure I know what I want to do. I do get overwhelmed a lot because I know finding a job will be very hard for me but thats why I feel good about making time to go to school because I can meet more people that can help me and give me good advice. I can also learn a lot of things that can help me find jobs or things to do on my own. Like learning how to make my own company or making one with others. I have to keep working but I know now that trade schools are not for me and that I can still find what I want to do in life.

Community College
Choosing to go to the community college isnt a bad choice, nor does it mean you will never be successful- whatever that may mean for you. Sometimes, the community college is the most financially realistic option you may have. Perhaps you did not have a perfect 4.0 GPA. Whatever reason you may have for considering a community college, you should know that you are no less intelligent or less capable of achieving your goals than your classmates who went straight into a fouryear college. In this section, we will go over the forms you need to fill-out, give you a to-do list, and provide you with some testimonials of current and former community college students.

City College of Alameda Source: Wikimedia Foundation

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BOG FEE WAIVER

Beginning on January 1, 2013, AB 540 students can begin to apply for the Board of Governors (BOG) fee waiver as a result of the passage of the California Dream Act. The specific forms for the BOG fee waiver vary among community college campuses, so checking the website of your community college will lead you to the accurate form(s) required to request enrollment fee waivers. Beyond the AB 540 BOG Waiver, AB 540 students may also complete the online 2013-2014 Dream Act application starting in January 2013 to receive Cal Grants and Chafee Grants beginning with the Fall 2013 semester at CSU, UC, California Community Colleges, and private four year colleges. Heres a copy of a BOG form so you know what it looks like: http://cms.cerritos.edu/uploads/FinancialAid/Forms %202013/2012-2013_bog_fw_app.pdf

Some words of wisdom

If your goal is to transfer within 2-3 years, the following is a list of very IMPORTANT steps to take once you begin at the community college: 1)Meet with an academic advisor/college counselor As soon as you begin your time at the community college, you want to ensure you get acquainted with your college counselors to help you fulfill general education requirements to transfer to a four-year college/university. Visit your community colleges website and look into the counseling section. Peruse through the counseling webpage, and, depending on how detailed each community college is with their websites, you may find short bios of the counselors. After looking through them, use your best judgement to determine who you may feel most comfortable talking to, and follow the appropriate procedures to schedule an appointment with them. Make sure you continue to meet with them on a frequent basis to get your questions as they may arise throughout your time at the community college. 2) Explore Career Possibilities If you are uncertain about what you may want to study or major in, consider taking career assessment and/or personality tests. As you are reading this you may be wondering, What is this? Do not despair. As cheesy as it sounds, taking these tests, which really are more or less assessments, will give you an idea of what profession or occupation may be a good match for you. When you begin the community college, you may want to enroll in a career preparedness, transfer success, or a college advice class (these are usually offered through the counseling department, but it varies among the community colleges). These classes are typically a unit or two, and they serve as tools to get an idea of what field of study you may see yourself in.

City College of San Francisco

Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA Source: Wikimedia Foundation

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3)Develop an education plan or academic map Assuming your goal is to transfer within 2 years (i.e 2 year college), you need to develop an education plan in accordance with either IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) or CSU General Education/Breadth Requirements to advance that goal. Think about the colleges/universities you would like to transfer to and visit assist.org, with the assistance of an academic advisor or college counselor, to begin developing your education plan, or planning the courses you will take during your stay at the community college. Doing this will expedite the transferring process. In this process, make sure to balance your schedules Requirements of the IGETC are: Area 1 - English Communication Three courses required, one in English composition, one in critical thinkingEnglish composition, and one in oral communication (at least 9 semester units) 1A - English Composition 1B - Critical Thinking English Composition 1C - Oral Communication (required by CSU only) The requirements 8A and 8B identify courses which, when taken in sequence, satisfy the 1B requirement. 8A - Critical Thinking 8B - English Composition Area 2 - Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning One course (at least 3 semester units) 2A - Math Area 3 - Arts and Humanities At least three courses, with at lest one from the arts and one from the humanities (at least 9 semester units) 3A - Arts 3B - Humanities Area 4 - Social and Behavior Sciences At least three courses from at least two disciplines (at least 9 semester units) 4A - Anthropology and Archaeology 4B - Economics 4C - Ethnic Studies 4D - Gender Studies 4E - Geography 4F - History 4G - Interdisciplinary, Social & Behavioral Sciences 4H - Political Science, Government & Legal Institutions 4I - Psychology 4J - Sociology & Criminology Area 5 - Physical and Biological Sciences Two courses, one physical science and one biological science; at least one must include a laboratory (at least 7 semester units) Courses that include a lab

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5A - Physical Science 5B - Biological Science 5C - Laboratory Activity Area 6 Languages Other Than English (required by UC only) Proficiency equivalent to two years of high school study in the same language 6A Languages Other Than English As part of the general education requirements for a bachelor's degree, all CSU students must meet the minimum of forty-eighty (48) semester units of general education breadth requirement. The general education requirement includes thirty-nine (39) semester units of lower-division (GE-Breadth) and at least nine units (9) of upper-division courses. The CSU GE-Breadth Requirements is a lower division 39 semester(58.5 quarter) unit pattern with specified courses in the areas of: Area A English Language Communication and Critical Thinking Area B Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning Area C Arts and Humanities Area D Social Sciences Area E Lifelong Learning and SelfDevelopment Each California Community College has a list of courses that can be used in each of the areas. The list is also available at degrees.calstate.edu. Each of the areas has a minimum number of units or courses. As you can see, the information CSU Mentor and Assist.org provide is a bit complicated to understand. You may find yourself saying, What is Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning? Or, What exact classes/ courses do these translate into? This is why we recommend that you meet with an advisor as you do this. In doing so, you can be more certain that you are receiving the adequate information. Have a sense of what your major might be so you make the best use of your time. In order to make the best use of your time while at the community college (and anywhere else, for that matter) you need to be well informed of your options at all times! Look through the college catalog and make a list of classes that look interesting to you. Then, visit assist.org to check whether these courses satisfy either CSU General Education Requirements or IGETC. Lastly, make sure to check in with your college counselor to have the information clarified.

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4)Talk to professors/teachers outside of class! Get in the habit of visiting your professors/ instructors during their office hours. This serves many purposes, but, more importantly, doing so enhances your educational experience. Going to office hours will acquaint you to your teachers/professors/instructors, and will help them remember who you are. Why does this matter? Well, at the community college, unlike high school, most instructors will not take the time to know everyone given the different classes they may teach. In this sense, it falls upon you to make them remember you, as this will 1) put a name to your face, 2) show your instructor you care about the class and what he or she lectures on, and 3) help establish a relationship with the instructor, which comes in handy should you ever need a letter of recommendation (and you will!). 5)Visit your colleges transfer center Begin by perusing through your community colleges transfer center web page. After you have, more or less, a sense of what resources they have to offer, pay a visit to the transfer center. Introduce yourself to the staff, and let them know what your goals are (or maybe even share that you are unsure what your goals are yet, if thats the case). Also, make sure to look at their calendar as there may be postings of upcoming college representative visits. It is especially helpful to inform yourself on when these visits take place if you are uncertain of your goals as meeting with college representatives may help narrow your

Pasadena City College

Elizabeths community college testimonial

I was not very sure what I wanted to do once I graduated college. I knew that I wanted to go to college, but I never sat down with my counselor to make sure I fulfilled the A-G requirements. I didnt really get serious about applying to fouryear colleges during my senior year in high school, let alone ask about my options as an undocumented student. I graduated high school with a less than stellar GPA, but with big dreams of one day becoming an attorney. I decided to enroll at the community college- determined to make my dreams closer to a reality. So, I made an appointment with a guidance counselor to enroll in classes, but that first meeting with her made me aware of my undocumented status. I also learned that I would be able to pay in-state tuition through AB540, but that I would not be eligible for financial aid. I decided to take on the challenges, and, as she had recommended, I met with her twice a semester to check-in on my progress. When it came time to applying to the four-year colleges, I felt prepared. When I needed clarification, her wealth of information on resources for undocumented students was there to guide me. I recommend community college students to meet with their counselors on a frequent basis to be up to date on financial aid information, curriculum changes etc; (and if they dont help, be persistent in finding adult figures who do!). I must add that I was very reserved about my status, and still sort of am, but you have to tell someone in order to get the information you need to reach your goals. Talking to my counselor and taking her advice helped me get into my two top choices- UCLA and UC Berkeley, and, now, I am close to graduating. No dream is too big. Dare to be a dreamer and take action! Good luck!
Citrus College Glendora, CA

Chaffey College Alta Loma, CA

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Four year colleges

Those who embark on this route have decided that they want to jump right into higher education having weighed the pros and cons of attending either a city college or a university. Fortunately for AB540 this route is affordable and more accessible due to the new laws AB130/131. There is more incentive than ever to attend a four year university either as an incoming freshman or even a junior transfer (see community college section for positives and negatives of choosing to transfer). Four years can go by very fast so always make sure to maintain your schedule as balanced as can be. Juggling grades, networking, sleep, exercise, and social life can be very stressful but if you give time for each then you can figure out what combination works best for you. If applying to 4-year colleges in California, consider the fact that there are 3 types of schools that you can potentially attend. They are divided into: University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) and the private system. Every school has different deadlines and admissions requirements. Check out this comparison chart on page 23 of this document: http://www.usc.edu/dept/chepa/pdf/AB%20540%20final.pdf CSUs and UCs are federally funded, since they are public universities. They have different campuses: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/welcome.html http://www.calstate.edu/datastore/campus_map.shtml Some campuses have undocumented support groups, and even Undocumented Student Programs. Check out the Undocumented Student Program at UC Berkeley http://undocu.berkeley.edu Consider applying to both the CSU and UC systems, the more choices you have to choose from, the better! Also, look into the strengths of each campus. For example, lets say you are interested in pursuing a career in journalism. X campus may be more well known nationally while Y campus is not as prestigious (as a whole) but does have a top journalism program. If you were to get into both schools, you would have to balance the pros and cons of attending either school. Perhaps attending Y campus may be more beneficial to you because it would help you fulfill the specific needs you have regarding your major and career, or maybe attending X would be better because it has a stronger alumni network. All of these things are important to consider before making the final decision. Our piece of advice to you is that, when making this decision, don't be afraid of taking positive risks. Sometimes finances are the the ultimate decider. If X school offers you a full scholarship and Y school offers you nothing, that might have a lot of influence on your final decision, depending on how much tuition costs at each institution. Remember that performing well academically is important in college and the less financial burdens you have, the easier it is to do well in school. [9] If you decide to apply, make sure to spend a good time on the application and the rest of the materials (essay, etc). Some schools might require you to take tests like the SAT. Try your hardest. While standardized tests may not be easy for many of us, we cannot let a silly test prevent us from making it to the next level...ha! Private schools have different policies regarding undocumented students. Some of them will not give them any scholarships while some will be willing to offer full rides. Check out the end of this document created by E4FC, which has a list of private colleges that offer financial assistance to undocumented students: http://www.e4fc.org/images/E4FC_Scholarships.pdf

Routes of opportunity

Workforce
Some high school students decide that going straight to work is the best option for them. In this section we want to point you in some right directions so that you can apply for some routes you may have never knew existed and where you can get the most of it. If you decide to go this route, remember that it is never too late to change gears and go to college, if you wish. Although employers may not knowingly hire an undocumented immigrant,laws often do not require proof of immigration status for people to create Limited Liability Companies or sole proprietorships.

Sole Proprietorship

An independent contractor may set up work for him or herself as a sole proprietor. A sole proprietorship is a form of business owned and managed by one person where no legal distinction between the owner and the business exists. A trade or business name is used in this case other than the legal name of the person. (1) Visit county clerk and ask for a name for the company. The cost is $35 depending on the business type. (2) Visit city hall to establish the business and receive a business license. The cost is about $10. (3) Open a business account at a bank. (4) Other requirements may have to be fulfilled depending on the county, such as registering with the local newspaper.

Limited Liability Companies

Where Corporations fail, LLC prevails. An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is like a mix between a partnership and a company where individual members share in the costs and benefits of the partnership. The benefits of this business function for undocumented students is that it permits them to work legally. Steps to Setting up a LLC in California: (1) Research the type of business plan you want and the state regulations. (2) Determine how the business will be managed, who the members will be (if others are interested), and how membership will be granted. (3) To become a LLC in California, a person or group must file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State along with a fee of $70. Do this by filing a form on the Secretary of States website. (4) Develop a management agreement. In California, the Beverly-Killiea Limited Liability Company Act, Corp C 1700-17655 has rules regarding internal management. (5) Within 90 days of filing the articles, the LLC has to file a Statement of Information with the Secretary of State. This includes names and addresses of LLC management and all members of the LLC, the general nature of the LLCs business activities, the name and address of the LLCs agent of service of process and the address of the LLCs principal business office. The statement would be filed every 2 years and when the information changes. (6) Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) as your business tax identification number. The process of completing an EIN application on Form SS-4 can be done online, by phone, or through your attorney.

Types of Independent contractors

A few types of jobs included tutor, Promoter of products (check craigslist), child care, computer programmer, party planner, and legal assistant.

Guidelines for Independent Contractors

An independent contractor is not required to fill out an I-9 (which verifies an employees identity and is used to prove that the individual is able to legally work in the US), or respond to inquires about immigration status. The independent contractor does require a Social Security number, however,or an individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to begin work. An ITIN is a tax processing number handed out by the IRS to people who are ineligible to be assigned a Social Security. Tax ID numbers are given out regardless of immigration status since both resident and nonresident individuals may file and report taxes. The ITIN is used to pay for income and employment taxes, however if an employer discovers that an independent contractor is undocumented, he or she may choose not to hire the worker. For more information visit: http://e4fc.org/images/limited-liability-co-worker-coop.pdf http://e4fc.org/images/E4FC_LifeAfterCollegeGuide.pdf

Undocupick-up lines

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College paperwork
AB540

Academics

Assembly Bill 540 was signed into law in October 2001 and allows eligible undocumented, legal permanent resident and U.S. citizen students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities (so community colleges, CSUs and UCs). In order to qualify, you must meet ALL of the following requirements: (1) Attend a California high school for 3 or more years, (2) Graduate from a California high school or receive the equivalent, such as a GED, (3) Submit an afdavit to the California public college or university you are attending or plan to attend. Where do I get the form? http://registrar.berkeley.edu/DisplayMedia.aspx? ID=UCTE_for_Elig_CA_HSGrads.pdf

This is what the form looks like. Check YES on the rst 3 boxes

For various reasons, there are always people who get their applications for AB540 denied. There is an appeal process for this that each campus has in place. If you think you have an appeal case, please file an appeal. This is a sample letter of appeal that could help you draft yours: http://krcla.org/en/ Undocumented_Student_Know-How# Nonresident_Classification_and_AB540_Exemption_Notice What if I dont qualify for AB540?
Unfortunately not all students have the privilege and opportunity to apply for AB540 status because one or more of the requirements above was not fulfilled. If you do not qualify do not be discouraged there are still many options available to you. Remember there are vocational/trade schools, community college, finding a job in the immediate workforce, or attending a 4 year UC/CSU. It is well understood that having an AB540 status makes 4year universities and community college more accessible, so if higher education is really your passion you should seek as many resources and scholarships as you can. If the costs are too high to muster then consider technical/trade/vocational schools or finding a worthy employment (see our Ways to Work: LLCs and Sole Proprietorships, Career Development, or DACA resources section). Never give up or feel hopeless because there are several non-profit organizations and resources out there to help you find a good job or a good program to go in.

Been there, done that! I started high school in California the second half of the rst semester of my sophomore year. So technically, I was a couple months short of having the 3 full academic years required to be AB540 eligible. However, I remembered that I completed 5-6 months of summer school in high school. I sent an AB540 appeal explaining that I thought I deserved to be AB540 eligible because the months I took summer school for covered the 2 month gap. And guess what? My appeal was granted!
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AB130 and 131

**This information was compiled by the University of California. For more information visit www.universityofcalifornia.edu.The recently passed California Dream Acts AB 130 and AB 131 extend eligibility for certain types of institutional and state aid to students, including undocumented students, who qualify for benefits under AB 540. You could be eligible for the following types of aid: AB130 Privately funded UC scholarships AB130 Other UC scholarships and grants AB131 Cal Grants (beginning in fall 2013)

Academics

Navigating college
College counselors
While they are experienced, and they know very well their craft, you should be prepared to answer questions that would typically be covered in your first session with an Academic counselor. Here are some things that would be covered in a counseling session for an incoming freshmen/transfer students: Academic Goals: What is your intended major? What are some areas you are passionate about studying? How is your academic confidence? Family Support and Personal Transition: What role do you play in your family? Are you the first in your family to go to college? How are you managing the personal transition to Cal? How might this impact your academic success? Finances: Does the student have money to cover tuition, explore different funding options? Any questions about this semesters financial aid? Does the student need to send money home to support family? Other topics: College requirements/breadth requirements, major requirements, AP units/JC Units, Residency (AB540 Affidavit), Stress level/ management, Time management. An academic counselor can help you sit down and figure a tailored made academic approach for you, but again, we suggest that you come prepared to answer these questions, and, likewise, have questions ready for the counselor. Website: slas.berkeley.edu

First things first-Resources

Upon starting your first week make sure to explore campus and locate all the buildings that offer academic and other services to you. Look for a center that specializes in offering support for communities that share your background (ethnicity, sexual identity, etc). They often have free supplies (paper, scantrons, pencils), upperclassman that can give you pointers on engaging classes, and information about upcoming events or programs that can offer free food during lectures (great time to bring tupperware for food that remains at the end of the event). Look for academic tutoring services and get acquainted with both your academic advisor and financial aid counselor to make sure you feel comfortable with them and be able to approach them in the future. Balancing the academic schedule Given the rigor of college, it is vital that you establish a well balanced academic schedule to ensure academic success, and, most importantly, your well-being. When choosing classes, you can resort to counselors at your college to guide you through this.

Always keep the long term goal in mind

It is important to maintain a balanced schedule during all of your semesters at CAL. In order to ensure the most optimal environment for academic success, you must not overwhelm yourself with a heavy course load. Studying

Dont be afraid to ask questions

Study every week as opposed to cramming in the end

Take advantage of all the resources available to you

Depending on what works best for you, you may inquire in finding a study buddy/group or in figuring out a study schedule that works best for you. Try out different environments to see where you maximize your studying hours. Is it the library? a student cafe? sitting on the grass? at a friends apartment? Try out different combinations to refresh your study time and to make sure you get work done.

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Study strategies
Study, Study, Study. That is what students do 24/7, right? Because were students. True, but as you adjust to the rigor of CAL, you made need to discover what the best studying method is for you. Study strategies are vital in academic success, and something to seriously include in our daily lives. In this section, we will provide some strategies that, generally, work for everyone, but you should adjust these to your own personal needs. Throughout each term you should establish: Blocks of Study Time and Breaks - Develop and plan for blocks of study time in a typical week -These blocks are, ideally, around 60 minutes, but you should adjust to fit your needs -Note: Difficult material may require more frequent breaks. Dedicated Study Spaces -Find a place free of distractions (no cell phone/text messaging), perhaps a library or coffee shop (if you can work under noise) Weekly Reviews -Establish a good time to do weekly reviews of course material, i.e Sunday night, if that happens to work with your schedule. -Note: You may need to adjust weekly reviews as exams approach Priorities -Get in the habit of beginning with your most difficult task and move on from there. -Postpone unnecessary, yet appealing activities until your work is done! These opportunities, perhaps to party, may result in poor performance on a test/paper. Time Management -Think of times when you can study: while walking, riding the bus, etc; while waiting in line, it might be helpful to pull out flashcards. -Get off Facebook! Sure, it may be nice to know where folks checked-in, and who went from in a relationship to single, but that only creates unnecessary distractions. We can all agree that test-taking is perhaps the most anxiety-inducing process for students. While not all the strategies here may work for all of you, it is important to take note of them and consider them while discovering your own testtaking techniques. Test-Taking Strategies: Begin Reviewing Early: Doing this will allow you sufficient time to ask for clarification in lecture, or professors office hours.
source: Wikimedia foundation

Academics

Short, Daily Reviews Read Text Assignments before Lectures Review Notes after Lectures Review Lecture Notes with classmates Conduct a major review early: Doing a holistic review of course material well before the exam will provide you with adequate time to visit the professor during his or her office hours to ask for clarification on confusing points. Break-up Study Tasks into manageable chunks

For more study strategies, visit out UC Berkeley Survival guide at undocuresources.blogspot.com

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Resources and tips

scholarships for college students

At this point in time, depending on what school attend and in what state, it may be easier to have access to state financial aid in college. However, be aware that thousands of private scholarships go unclaimed every year and that is money that could potentially go to you, if you decide to spend a few hours per month applying for them. Many students before you advocated so you would have access to the scholarships available to undocumented students. Try to take full advantage of these opportunities
Many of these scholarship applications range from 1-3 hours in time to complete depending on how much effort you apply in one sitting. To make the task less off putting, think of each application as a job so if you put say 2 hours into one application worth $5000 then if earned you just got paid $2500 per hour!

Scholarship Directories
E4FC
http://www.e4fc.org/studentresources/ scholarshiplists.html

East Bay Consortium

Apply to as many scholarships as you can!

http://eastbayconsortium.org/ index.php?s=92

College Sense

http://nygearup.org/collegesense/students/ scholar_undoc.htm

Latino College Dollars

http://latinocollegedollars.org

Berkeley Scholarship website

http://students.berkeley.edu/

Advice -Remember that some of these scholarships do take grades into account so trying to get good grades should be a priority for you as a student. It will pay off. Trust us! -Get to know people at your college campus including students, counselors, teachers, etc. Sometimes these people may be aware of scholarships that you may not know of. -Ask. If the scholarship website does not specify anything about status of lack of thereof, dont be afraid to clarify. Sometimes the committees dont know about undocumented students and learning about the issue might make them sympathetic towards the cause and might make them open up their scholarship program to undocumented students.
source: Wikimedia Foundation

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Summer programs to apply for

Resources and tips

Been there, done that! "I love that I was able to work with a health organization that dealt with immigrants' rights and access to health care. I not only did what I enjoyed but I got paid for it too!- Bay Area Dream Summer Intern 2011

PROGRAM
Even if you think you dont have enough experience, dont be afraid to apply and show your desire to grow professionally. DREAM Summer Programs
Young People For

WEBPAGE
http://dreamresourcecenter.org/ dream-summer-13/ http://www.youngpeoplefor.org/ programs/fellowship http:// www.schoolofunityandliberation.org/ soul_sec/ programs/pr-summer.html http://www.nhli.org/latinas_lead/ lll_program.html

APPLY! APPLY! APPLY!

School of Unity and Liberation

Latinas Learning to Lead

Resume
Usually, when you apply to jobs, internships and scholarships the application forms will ask you to submit a resume. So what is a resume? A resume is a document, usually one or two pages long, which provides information about what you have done over the years, including the schools you have attended, where you have worked, in what activities you have been involved, and even awards that you have received in life, if applicable. When crafting a resume, you need to be careful and make sure to include all the important information, highlighting those activities that are related to the job, internship or scholarship you are applying to. It is always helpful to have someone with more experience in the professional world take a look at your resume and give you feedback before you finalize it. There are a myriad of online services where you could get templates for a resume. Make sure you keep track of the things you do (jobs, internships, volunteering, etc) so you can add them to your resume and update them regularly. Remember that sometimes, the potential employer (or resume reader) wont know who you are. The only things they will know about you will be based on a few documents, like your resume. This is why its important to spend time crafting a good one. In the next page, we have included two resume samples for you to look at.

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Resources and tips Jose Martinez 123 Dream Way, Berkeley,CA 55555 p: (510)888-9999 | e: j.martinez@gmail.com EDUCATION: Berkeley High School High School Diploma Graduation Date: June 2011

Berkeley, CA

EXPERIENCE: Restaraunte Los Sonadores Oakland, CA January 2009-Present Position: Waiter Responsibilities: Multi-tasked by seating guests as they arrived, serving seated clientele and operating as a cashier for departing customers. Sharpened communication skills by resolving customer complaints and creating win-win solutions to their problems. Seated guests and served customers during the restaurant's busy lunch hour. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: Hope Homeless Shelter April 2010-Present Filed intakes of homeless individuals at the shelter. Helped prepare and serve food on a weekly basis. Organized online fundraisers

123 Dream Way, Phoenix, AZ 55555 p: (777)888-9999 | e: a.sonadora@asu.edu EDUCATION: Dream University Bachelor of Arts, Ethnic Studies Graduation Date: May 2013 (Anticipated) Bakersfield High School High School Diploma Graduation Date: June 2009 EXPERIENCE: UCLA Labor Center Los Angeles, CA June 2012-August 2013 Position: Summer Intern Responsibilities: Assisted Dream Summer Internship Program Coordinators with administrative tasks Maintained an organized work calendar for UCLA Labor Centers staff Communicated effectively with UCLA Labor Center & Dream Summer Coordinators Restaurante Los Sonadores Bakersfield,CA January 2008-December 2012 Position: Waitress Responsibilities: Multi-tasked by seating guests as they arrived, serving seated clientele and operating as a cashier for departing customers. Sharpened communication skills by resolving customer complaints and creating win-win solutions to their problems. Seated guests and served customers during the restaurant's busy lunch hour. AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS: Deans Honor List, Dream University Fall 2009-Fall 2012 Los Angeles, CA

Adriana Sonadora

Bakersfield, CA

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Resources and tips

legal resources
DACA- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
On June 15, 2012, President Obama announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would not deport certain DREAM Acteligible undocumented youth. These youth are given a type of temporary permission to stay called deferred action Deferred action will be valid for two years and can be renewed at the end of the two years. Individuals who receive deferred action may apply for a social security number, a drivers license (in California) and an employment authorization. To be eligible for deferred action, you must: -Have been born on or after June 16, 1981. -Have come to the United States before your sixteenth birthday. -Have continuously lived in the U.S. since June 15, 2007. -Have been present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and on every day since August 15, 2012. -Not have lawful immigration status. -Be at least 15 years old. -Have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, be an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or U.S. armed forces, or be in school on the date that you submit your deferred action application. -Have not been convicted of a felony offense. -Have not been convicted of a significant misdemeanor offense or three or more misdemeanor offenses. -Not pose a threat to national security or public safety. -Pass a background check.
source: NILC

Helpful information about applying to DACA National Immigration Law Center http://www.nilc.org/FAQdeferredactionyouth.html Educators for Fair Consideration http://www.e4fc.org/legalservices/ deferredactionresources.html We Own the Dream http://www.weownthedream.org/#

If paying for DACA is an issue, there are alternatives Like applying for a fee waiver, lending circles, grants

Check out the links we have provided to you

source: motherjones.com

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Legal Services in the Bay Area

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant 2362 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 Phone: (510) 540-5296

Resources and tips

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

310 8th Street, Suite 303 Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 465-1984 Fax: (510) 465-1885 EBSC offers sanctuary, solidarity, support, email: nnirinfo@nnir.org community organizing assistance, advocacy, NNIR works to promote a just immigration and legal services to those escaping war, and refugee policy in the United States; and terror, political persecution, intolerance, to defend and expand the rights of all exploitation and other expressions of immigrants and refugees regardless of their violence. immigration status. Fax: (510) 540-5907 Urgent Hotline: (800) 548-0956 Services offered: -Asylum -U-Visa -Permanent Residency -Naturalization -TPS Centro Legal de La Raza 3022 International Blvd. Suite 410 Oakland, CA 94601 Phone: (510) 437-1554 Fax: (510) 437-9164 email: info@centrolegal.org All services and programs are FREE or LowCost. Centro Legals core legal services provide counsel and advice, referral, brief services, and representation to over 9,000 individuals and families each year. Clinics offered: -Tenants Rights Project -Workers Rights Project -Keeping Immigrant Families Together -Consumer Protection Clinic -Personal Injury Clinic -Workers Compensation Clinic -Lawyer Referral Catholic Charities Diocese of Oakland Immigration Project 433 Jefferson Street Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 768-3148 (Ask for Samuel Krantz) Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation 1470 Fruitvale Avenue Oakland, CA 94601 Phone: (510) 261-7839 Services include: -Advocacy and referrals for housing, medical care, legal issues, and local and county resources -Center for Independent Living; Advocating and offering services to people with disabilities -Informal translation, interpretation, and filling out forms.

Have you always wondered if you qualify for an immigration relief?

Fill out an intake form with the E4FC Dreamer Intake Service! Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC) offers free information of possible immigration remedies for qualifying undocumented individuals throughout the country. Fill out your intake form here: http://www.e4fc.org/ legalservices/ submitanintakeform.html

Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) 1663 Mission Street, Suite 602 San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: (415) 255-9499 Fax: (415) 255-9792 Services Include: -Community Advocacy -Leadership Training -Know your Rights Presentations -Naturalization and Citizenship -Political Asylum -Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) -Family Unity Policy -Immigration Relief for abused immigrant women and children Handbook for Young Immigrants is available: www.ilrc.org/files/ youth_handbook_english_0.pdf Make sure to check this handbook out as it provides a wealth of information vital to all undocumented youth.

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Resources and tips

Health Services
By Street Level Health Project

Order of Malta Clinic

Address: 2121 Harrison Street (at 21st Street), Oakland, CA 94612 Telephone: 510-587-3000 Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30am 12pm and 1pm 4pm, Fridays, 8:30am 12pm Transportation: AC Transit buses #NL, 11 and 805, but MANY other buses stop at 20th/Broadway area, BART Station 19th Street Oakland Languages: English, Spanish and Tagalog (sometimes Mandarin and Cantonese) Services: Primary care, TB testing and treatment, and Chest X-Ray referrals, X-Rays (referred out, but paid for by clinic), Lab testing (referred out, but paid for by clinic), Medications (mostly prescriptions only, must buy meds at a pharmacy), Specialty care: referred to Highland Hospital unless current volunteer practitioners have specialty care training Requirements; Uninsured or underinsured clients; clients with insurance will be referred elsewhere, Do NOT need photo ID, proof of address or proof of income, Call ahead for an appointment, no drop-ins

Transportation: AC Transit buses #1, 1R and 62, BART Station Fruitvale is 10 blocks away Languages: English, Spanish and Mongolian. Call ahead for interpretation for Mam, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Burmese. Services: Basic screening and healthcare (including screening for hypertension and diabetes), Medications (basic short-term meds dispensed for free, some meds by prescription), Referrals for specialty care and primary care, Case Management and Healthcare Navigation support services Requirements: Open to anyone, priority for uninsured/ underinsured and low-income. No childrens services, Do NOT need photo ID, proof of address or proof of income, Drop-in only, first come first served; no appointments available

Rotacare Bay Area San Leandro Clinic*

Healthcare for the Homeless Mobile Van

Telephone:510-532-1930 (Healthcare for the Homeless) Languages: English and Spanish Services: Basic screening and healthcare (including hypertension and diabetes screening), HIV testing and counseling, Wound and infection treatment, Referrals for specialty care support services, Case Management Requirements: Open to anyone, homeless and marginally housed patients are prioritized, Do NOT need photo ID, proof of address or proof of income, Drop-in only, rst come rst served; no appointments available Van services at St. Vincent de Paul Address: St. Vincent de Paul, 2272 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612 Hours: 2nd Mondays, 9:30am 12:00pm and 1:30pm 4:00pm last Monday of the month, 10:00am 12:00pm (call ahead to check) Transportation: AC Transit buses #15, 18, 72, 72R, 72M, 800, NL BART Station 19th Street Oakland is 6 blocks away Van services at CRECE Address: East 12th Street and 29th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 Hours:last Monday of the month, 9:30am 12:00pm and 1:30pm 3:30pm Transportation: AC Transit buses #1, 1R, 50, 62, 801. Other bus lines at Fruitvale BART Station, BART Station Fruitvale is 5 blocks away

Address: 3081 Teagarden Street (between Alvarado St. and the 880 freeway), San Leandro, CA 94577 Telephone: 510-347-4620 Hours: Mondays 4:30pm 7:00pm, adult services, Mondays 4:30pm 7:00pm, childrens services, Wednesdays 5:00pm 7:00pm, dental clinic, Thursdays, 3:00pm 6:00pm, physical therapy by appointment only Transportation: AC Transit bus #55. Leaves from San Leandro BART station. BART Station San Leandro is 1 miles away Languages: English and Spanish. For all other languages call ahead to check about interpreters. Services: Primary care, Pre-school exams and immunizations, Free prescriptions when available, Free acute dental needs for adults, Referral services when needed, Physical therapy, Social Work, Well-child exams Requirements: Open to anyone. Do NOT need photo ID, proof of address or proof of income.

Berkeley Free Clinic

Street Level Health Project

Address: 2501 International Blvd (at 25th Ave), Oakland, CA 94601 Telephone: 510-533-9906 Hours: Mondays, 10:30am 1:30pm (sing up list starts at 10am), Wednesdays, 1:00pm 4:00pm (sign up list starts at 12:30pm)

Address: 2339 Durant Avenue (between Ellsworth St. and Dana St.), Berkeley, CA 94794 Telephone: 510-548-4811 or 1-800-6-CLINIC (800-625-4642), 510-644-0425 (STD/HIV testing through Gay Mens Health Collective), 510-548-2745 (Dental services only) Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays - general medicine or TB testing, Call at 5:30pm if homeless or at 5:45pm if not homeless for same evening appointments starting at 7pm, Tuesdays TB testing only. Same times as above, Saturdays HIV testing for women. Drop-ins between 12pm and 2pm, Hepatitis testing (A, B and C) 3-5pm. Call between 1pm-2:30pm for same day appt., Sundays STD and HIV testing for men. Arrive between 4pm and 5pm for drop-in services, Phone hours: Monday Friday 3-9pm, Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 4-7pm Transportation: AC Transit buses #1/1R, 7, 51, 52L. Other nearby buses at Downtown Berkeley BART, BART Station Downtown Berkeley Languages: English. For all other languages call ahead to check about interpreters. Services: General medicine: basic acute and short-term primary care including cold/flu, skin issues (but not on face), STDs for men and non symptomatic STD screening for women, TB testing, pregnancy testing, ear infections, burns, minor wounds. Dental clinic: general exams, cleanings, simple fillings and extractions. Call ahead or check website (http://www.geocities.com/bfcdental/) to get upcoming clinic dates. Arrive 30 minutes before clinic time to put your name in the lottery. Patients whose names are randomly selected will be seen for dental services thesame night. Anonymous HIV testing and Hepatitis A, B and C testing Requirements: No requirements, but some services are prioritized for homeless patients.

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Domestic flights

Resources and tips, stories

- Dress nicely and smartly. Avoid any fancy metallic-embedded clothing that might set off detectors and subject you to a stripsearch. - Ideally, do a web-check in 24 hours ahead of time so you dont have to stand in line.There are 3 checkpoints. (1) TSA agent that checks your valid government-issued photo ID and flight ticket. TSA is not immigration and not supposed to look for a visa but they have time to waste sometimes. It also makes sense for this reason to fly during heavy traffic hours. Open up your passport to the valid ID page so the agent doesnt have to flip through the passport and see any expired visas. They usually do not check for a visa of any sort, even on foreign passports. If you have a state ID, you need not worry about this though REAL ID may now stipulate some additional documentation. DO NOT EVER answer immigration questions that may reveal your status. You have a right to a lawyer if you are detained. If you end up in trouble at any time, call 415-808-4444. (If you are flying with checked-in bagged, that would be your first checkpointchecking in the baggage. Airlines now charge $15 for this. If you have a short itinerary, skip the checked baggage and simply get two small carry-on items on the airplane like a backpack and a laptop bag). (2) The main security checkpoint where you are subjected to a metal detector search. (3) And finally, handing over your airline ticket to the agent. Tips for Main Security Checkpoint You dont need your ID at this checkpoint but just a boarding pass. After smiling nicely and speaking politely to the first TSA agent, prepare to take some empty tubs and take off your shoes, watch, belt, cellphone and anything else that may set off metal detectors. Laptops, electronic items such as video games and toiletry bags must be taken out of bags and screened separately in a tub. Toiletries should be in a separate clear ziplock bag with your liquids separated. Water bottles and food items from outside would probably be trashed but you can buy food at the gates (last checkpoint) to take on the plane trip. After passing through this main security point, you are safe. You MIGHT get subject to a random search or if you somehow set off the metal detectors. Stay calm and let them do a pat-down. It goes without saying that after passing the second checkpoint, you should gather all belongings and head to camp out in your gate area till your flight starts boarding. You also do not need your ID at this point. On the plane youll get a complimentary beverage. Snacks are $$. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice nor should you rely on it. If you do, you do it at your own risk.

UNDOCU STORIES
The purpose of this section is to shed light on the wide spectrum of successful and hard working undocumented people (both those that are in the limelight and those that are in the shadows). The difference is that those in the spotlight of accomplished stories are often the center of media coverage and social commentary. Those who are in the spotlight are often professionals in medicine or law. They appear in documentaries, TV shows, and magazines often starting at the very bottom and making it to the top through pure determination and hard work. They usually represent beacons of hope and motivation for other students who wish to reach that elevated position in the future. A few examples of undocu-people who are widely publicized in this vein are people like brain surgeon Dr. Alfredo Quiones-Hinojosa who was born in Mexicali, Mexico and later went to John Hopkins University. Another example, is journalist Jose Antonio Vargas who has been very vocal in spreading awareness on key issues pertaining to undocumented immigrants. Lastly, there are the members of the Dream Bar Law Association who, as undocumented attorneys, work together to apply their legal knowledge and credentials in various cases. While there is no doubt that these undocu-professionals made it to the top through hard work and sacrifice, they are not the only positive representations of undocu-people with accomplishments. There are thousands of undocumented activists, workers, students, and artists spread about locally and nationally who contribute everyday to the basic inner workings of many societal functions in high demand. These people may appear on a few local newspapers or independent publications that champion their often unnoticed contributions, but for the most part they are seen as everyday people one encounters or simply lie in the shadows of America. A few examples of undocumented people who function on this side of the spectrum are individuals are organizations like El Sol Center in Jupiter, Florida, focus on building local institutions and resources for undocumented activists, families, and workers. These are just a few names from different areas of work that continue the struggle to provide for themselves and support other people. Whether they are noticed or not, they have made accomplishments and successes both big and small. The cycle of inspiration exists there because these undocu-people were once in that situation asking themselves Whats next? when they were younger. They did it and so can you homie!

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IMMIGRANT ROLE MODELS

At the age of 14, Carlo Alban became a regular on "Sesame Street." Carlo appeared on "Sesame Street" for five years. But the whole time, he was an undocumented immigrant. The papers he'd used to get hired were fake. More on him here: http:// latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/ 2011/03/14/memoir-illegal-sesamestreet/

Stories

Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa was an undocumented migrant farmworker when he first came to the United States from Mexico. Now he's a renowned neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University, and a researcher for the treatment of brain cancer. Read more about him here: http:// www.npr.org/templates/story/ story.php?storyId=10013111

Jose Antonio Vargas is an undocumented journalist, filmmaker, and immigration activist. He was part of The Washington Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting in 2008 for their coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings online and in print. Vargas has also worked for The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Daily News, and The Huffington Post. More about him here: http:// joseantoniovargas.com

A mothers RISING: Resilience of a DREAMer

Theres no way to ever sugar coat what my experience in early childhood and adolescent years were and I am sure its pretty much the same for the majority of us who have to endure the separation from our home country and our relatives whom are left behind so that we can have a better life in this country. Luckily for my siblings and I, my mother brought us to the U.S. all together; we were reunited with my older sister who had been in the U.S a year before we arrived. Still, without my grandparents and the presence of my father, overcoming the cultural shock we experienced seemed a lot more difficult to overcome. The separation was too difficult to bear and we were finally reunited with him a year or so later. I recall my old Berkeley neighborhood filled with immigrant families from Italy, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, India, other regions from Mexico; although often times we were not able to communicate in terms of language, we all had that sense of support. I believe this sense of support is what helped my family and I endure the separation from our village; however, as I reached my adolescence and learned of my illegal status, reality struck and it was during this time that I felt completely disoriented, lost and unwanted. I am sure this experience is shared with many others who also learned of their status while attempting to obtain a job to help their parents economically. When my mother explained to me why I could not legally obtain a job, I cried. My aspiration as a young girl was always to be an interpreter and learning of my situation, my dreams and aspirations came crumbling down before me. I was devastated and lost interest in school; I was in middle school and it was then that I began to feel discouraged and unmotivated to continue on a path to higher education. I remember often times Id argue with my parents because I wanted to drop out completely, I started cutting class and hang out with my friends- truancy letters were sent home very often and because my parents didnt peak English, they were unaware of my actions. Until my middle school hired a counselor who was bilingual and was able to let my parents know what I had been up to. My counselor did more than he should have to keep me and other troubled students in school. He offered to assist with homework after school, taking us on field trips as a reward, called our parents to let them know when we were up to no good, organized a support group and even shared his experience as an exgang member. Hed always preach about why its important for Latinos to get educated in order to make changes. Still, all this wasnt enough to get me to stay in school because in my mind, he didnt know what is was like to be in my situation. I began to feel resentment towards him, what did he know about living in the shadows? It seemed that the more he tried to keep me in school, the more I wanted to quit. I remember a particular time; I pretended to go to school, left my house at the usual time and waited until both of my parents left to work.

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Then I came back home and sneaked in through the window. I was being a couch potato, suddenly I hear a banging on the door and I look and it was my counselor! I freaked out because my mother would be arriving from work pretty soon and I would be in so much trouble. All of the sudden I wanted el Chapulin Colorado to show up and save me, but it became more real as my counselor began to circle the apartment, knocking on the windows saying, come out Daniela, I know youre in there. I came to take you to school. I lay stiff on the floor barely breathing until he gave up and left. It angered me that he was so persistent towards someone who had no future, so I missed the rest of the week jut to make sure hed completely give up on me. I completely struggled to finish middle school and after repeating 7th grade, I was shamed and couldnt wait to drop out. My journey as a high school student was not any easier. I dropped out my freshman year because I believed school was completely pointless. I thought that working to help my parents would be more useful than going for a degree that I wouldnt even be able to put to use. Life didnt get any easier; I began to have conflicts with my father who was an alcoholic. Yes, physical and emotional abuse, conflict and hardships increased as I struggled to feel part of my own family. I started running away and thought Id be better off with my boyfriend at the time. Oh boy was I in to learn the lesson of my life, after a month of running away I didnt experience any difference living with the guy who promised to care for me. My mother pleaded for me to return home, they didnt care that I had stepped all over the familys honor by running away with my boyfriend. And after experiencing relationship abuse, I immediately returned home. I had learned my lesson the hard way; definitely school was my place to be. However, a couple of months later I learned that I was pregnant, at 16 Sali con mi domingo siete, (out with your Sunday seventh), which is a saying used in Mexico as a negative reference for women who get pregnant without being married. Here I was, repeating the cycle- my mother had only completed a 6th grade education and became a mother at 16. The image became pretty clear; I had followed my mothers footsteps. I started to reflect and remembered how as a young girl I cried many times

because my mother couldnt help me with my homework and I couldnt rely on my father either because he had only made it to the second grade. I began to think and reflect on what my life would be like as a mother and the type of life Id be able to offer my unborn baby. I definitely did not want that type of life for anyone else, let alone another human being that I helped bring into this world. My whole perspective in life changed, I realized that the only way I could make changes was by doing what my parents were not able to accomplish, not because they didnt want to but because they were not given the opportunities I had before me. At seven months pregnant I enrolled at Berkeley Adult School and attended the daily classes for the rest of my pregnancy. Just like my mother, I too became a mother to a beautiful baby girl a month before my 17th Birthday. Although my daughter was born a healthy baby, being a single mother increased the chances that Id never finish school. A few months later I learned that my daughter was born with Asthma, which required much attention and in home care, this prevented me from attending school on a daily basis. I decided to stay off school for a couple of months until my daughters health was stabled. Im sure youre wondering where her biological father was at this time- the obvious reason; he was too young for this type of responsibility and has never been ready. Without much support, I became determined to finish my high school diploma by taking morning and evening classes, independent study and working a few shifts to financially support my daughter. Often times Id bring in my daughter to class and to work to ensure that I finished school and had a steady income to purchase diapers and clothes for my growing daughter. With the teachers support and my dedication, I obtained my high school diploma and GED; this was truly a victorious moment. However, this victory became sour when I learned that if I wanted to attend community college Id have to pay as an international student. Once again, achieving a college education degree was shattered when I saw the tuition fees for an A.A. Degree, but I had made it this far and I didnt want to stop now. I wanted to continue so following my graduation I worked for three years and saved up as much as I could. Soon after I learned of the AB 540 status and in 2008, I had finally saved enough

money to sign up for my first college course. I only had enough to pay for one course and the materials, but it didnt matter, signing up for one course meant that once again I overcame many challenges. I was proud of myself that I was walking on Berkeley City Colleges campus as a student in the evening, while some days (during my work shift) I was an intern collecting the recycling bins for the company that I worked for at that time. To ensure that I could afford college, I worked 40 hours-plus a week for a recycling company in West Oakland. Thinking about it now, it amazes me how far your own dedication and determination can take you. Many times I walked on the UC Berkeley campus in my work uniform going from building to building collecting the recycling bins and not once did I ever see myself as a student on this campus, until the fall semester when all the graduating students were discussing where theyd be transferring to. I had bitter sweet moments, the completion of my A.A. Degree was a historic moment in my family, the first one to make it this far with an education; however, it seemed impossible paying for higher education because two semesters before graduation, I lost my job since the company learned of my status. This only discouraged me from considering a 4year university. Although I had the motivation and support from my husband (I married in 2009), his income barely covered the household expenses. There was no DREAM act scholarship to help at that time, so all educational expenses had to be covered out of pocket. Despite that I was jobless and my husband didnt have a steady job, he encouraged me to apply to transfer. I began to search to local CSUs and UCs. When I discussed the list of the UCs and CSUs with my husband, he questioned why UC Berkeley was not on my list. It wasnt that I didnt believe in myself, it was that I had taken a different path towards higher education. I knew I had the potential to succeed academically, I just didnt know how well I had it or whether UC Berkeley would acknowledge it. My husband, my teachers at Berkeley Adult School and PACE staff at Berkeley City College obviously believed in my potential. With their support I graduated in 2011 from Berkeley City College with high honors and two A.A. Degrees, along with a few thousand dollars in scholarships, which helped pay my off first semester.

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I was offered admissions to all four universities that I applied, among them UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz and UCLA, but my heart was definitely set here, at UC Berkeley. As you may imagine, it was a proud moment for everyone who knew of my academic journey. Although my parents are proud, they still dont completely understand what this truly means. The amazing support from my family, my husband, friends, my teachers, employers, counselors and community members whove believed in me has allowed me to accomplish the unimaginable. Ive realized that we can get very far in life if we give ourselves the chance. I am proud to say that I am a current student at UC Berkeley in the Spanish Department, majoring in Hispanic Languages and Bilingual Issues. I gave myself the opportunity to DREAM and here I am an undocumented student, while being a parent to a wonderful 10 year old girl who understands that she is expected to attend a four year university and it does not matter the path she chooses as long as she gets there. Breaking a cycle takes a lot of courage,

hard times and good times are guaranteed, but at the end we must remember that as DREAMers we have already given the first step to make changes. Never give up and continue to pursue your dreams, the journey is worth every bitter and sweet moment.

Denisses Story: a pre-health Dreamer

My name is Denisse and I graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2012. I came to the US when I was a few months old; my parents moved from Mexico City to the United States over 20 years ago. My parents, both very young at the time, were escaping abuse and violence they experienced in their homes. We moved to Fremont, California in 1990. Throughout my childhood I was very aware that my family was undocumented; my parents often mourned the loss of loved ones in Mexico, wishing that they could fly to see their family and it always pained me to see them so sad and wished I could do something about it. I was also aware that I was undocumented because my parents hired a lawyer in the early 1990s to help us fix our immigration status. We frequently went to San Francisco to the lawyers office to file paperwork; the trips always seemed very important and knew that they somehow would fix something that was broken in my family. I didnt truly understand what it meant to be undocumented, I just felt that something was wrong with us. Eventually, the lawyer took all our money and placed my family in deportation proceedings. My senior year of college I began to understand my situation better; aside from not being able to work, obtain a drivers license, and questioning my ability to go to college, I was team captain of the track and field team at my high school and was offered scholarships by colleges to run at their school. I began receiving recruitment letters the start of my senior year; my dream was to run in college like all my other teammates who were graduating from high school. Some of my friends were offered full-tuition and expenses paid at colleges such at UC Berkeley, UCLA and Sacramento State. My coach pushed me to run for a college saying that it will help pay for my tuition but it pained me to tell him that I couldnt accept any of the offers and without giving him a reason. In college, things didnt get any easier. I commuted from Fremont to Berkeley all five years of college; I spent over 15 hours each week commuting to and from school. I also worked 20+ hours each week in college in order to finance all of my expenses. It was difficult to stay awake during classes because I was so exhausted from working and commuting. I felt as if Id been in a fighting rink all day and at night and through the few hours I got of sleep was the only time I could rest. Though Ive experienced many challenges in college, what has kept me going is my familys drive and determination to keep on going. My parents got married when they were 16 and 19 years old and moved to the US in their mid-20s without knowing the English language, not having a high school diploma, and were very poor. Through their hard work my siblings and I all eventually were accepted to college and last year I was the last to graduate from college. Moreover, my mothers dream to pursue her own education has pushed me even further to complete mine. My mother began taking English classes at an adult school when I was young and eventually she took nursing classes in a local community college. My mother graduated as a Licensed Registered Nurse a few years ago. My mothers dream is to be a nurse at a delivery room. Seeing my mother work hard to accomplish her dreams keeps me focused in school.

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My future goals are to attend medical school and become a physician. When I was young, I knew I couldnt go to the doctor when I was sick. I would hide an illness until it was severe because going to the doctor meant a bill my parents couldnt afford. I believed this luxury was only for kids whose parents came home in the afternoon from work, attended PTA meetings, and packed their kids lunch for school. My drive to pursue a career in medicine comes from the hardships I endured when I was young having limited access to resources like going to the doctor. I believe that health care is a universal right, not a luxury. Because of this, in college I majored in Integrative Biology and soon will be applying to medical school.

can give to other undocumented youth is to not be afraid to ask for help. In high school and most of college I didnt tell my counselors about my status because I was ashamed and afraid of being judged. Only until my senior year of college did I have the courage to ask for help; I was depressed at the time and knew that I couldnt continue in school on my own, I wanted to drop out. Only after telling a few advisors I felt close to that I was undocumented, did my college experience turn around. Advisors told me about opportunities they thought I qualified for and I was able to apply and receive scholarships that let me quite my job. Whether you confide in counselors or teachers in school, or other people close to you, letting them know about your status will let you get Thinking back through my experiences help. We cannot do this alone, only after high school, the biggest advice I together as a community can we rise.

Alejandro Js Story
My name is Alejandro and Im currently a senior at UC Berkeley. I will be graduating this May with a diploma in Ethnic Studies. It was a long road getting here but I learned a lot from my experiences. I would like to share some of that with you just to show that we dont all come from a perfect background. I came to UC Berkeley as a transfer student. There are two ways of getting into a 4 year university through high school or through community college. Most college students come straight from high school, but a significant amount goes to community college and then transfer to a four year like Cal. Either route is a challenge, but in my case coming to college out of high school was more than a challenge, it was next to impossible. I was undocumented and not only was that an issue, it was a big secret that kept me from even asking about college. When I finally got around to asking my high school counselors about college they saw that I would barely meet graduating requirements and immediately suggested I get a job or enroll in community college. What I really wanted to tell them was that I had thought about college a lot, but I couldnt plan or act on it because I was undocumented and all I knew was that undocumented people couldnt do anything. Although I would graduate from high school the rest was a mystery. Upon being out of school I worked in retail selling hardware. It was fulfilling the first couple of paychecks but I didnt consider retail my future. Its not like I I struggled with this and didnt care much was trying to get rich from selling for school and college readiness was not lawnmowers either, but I looked at my my concern. I am far from the myth of the earnings and knew it wasnt all that, at perfect college student. In high school I least going to school would be worth it got in trouble and moved around a lot, my while I waited to fix my immigration first high school told me I was dismissed status. I was not a student with big and I went on to two more schools before dreams of getting into the best most graduating. In spite of this I walked the widely recognized school. I was merely stage and went on to community college. giving it a try knowing that it could lead to I was afraid that I was kidding myself and nowhere, I wanted to get into USC it was just a big joke, that I wouldnt know because they had a great football team anything or be smart enough. It didnt but I didnt have that big dream others help that I enrolled alone and didnt know talked about. I was not trying to be a of any programs like Puente or other lawyer or doctor, to me it was a small risk retention services. At times I was lost in since my other option was to get fired job class, I felt like I was wasting my time after job for not having citizenship. especially when I knew I could get a retail job somewhere and at least have money I enrolled in school again after not taking for the weekends. By the time the school classes for a while. By this time I had year was coming to an end I had stopped been out of high school for two years. I going to classes. I tried staying in school was taking a class that talked on but I didnt feel like it was going immigration, it was there where I wrote anywhere. I could not see myself in my first college paper and got a good college when I would compare myself to grade. Being able to write about the other kids in class taking notes all fast something current to my life was dope. I and talking like they knew everything. It began finding topics that worked for me was uncomfortable and it made it easy for and taught me things that liberated me. me to leave school, but I didnt formally drop out.

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I read up on things like immigrant history in California, topics like the Chicano movement, the Black Panthers in Oakland, the struggle in Palestine, the opposition to the Bush Wars in Iraq. I even went to a talk based on writings by 2Pac. These topics mattered to me and I started reading complete books about this stuff. I enjoyed that and through these topics I was able to read more and write more. Eventually I chose and major that focused on social issues and I developed as a student, enough to get the grades to get into UC Berkeley. Being a transferring student was also interesting because people may see you as having done lesser work in community college. Its a common misunderstanding this idea that community college is any less than other schools. I recommend community college to everyone for different reasons. In the case of being undocumented a place like community college is perfect for saving money while finishing college equivalent courses. I personally didnt start with college courses, I placed into remedial classes. Ultimately it took me three years but when I finally applied to transfer into a four year university I had come a long way. I was still asking questions and wondered how far I would go without papers, but at least I knew if the Dream Act passed id be eligible. I felt nervous at times when questions of citizenship would come up in regards to college applications, but this is where it helped going to events like the RISE conference. It was at the first RISE conference that I actually saw and met other undocumented students already doing their thing in college. I was amazed and impressed by everything they shared. I saw that all of these brothers and sisters were fighting to be at Cal every day. They inspired me to keep going and to work hard to attain more resources. These events are impactful, I had seen students like me at UC Berkeley in a way that was empowering and encouraging. My teachers pushed me and I was lucky to have to support of many people in community college, but seeing the RISE students at Cal made me truly believe that I belonged here, that I could get an education regardless of my status or background.

I was fortunate to learn about community college early on and to receive help, but I was also fortunate to see students who did it before me share the word on how to make it and survive in college. Ultimately this is a challenging task and I dont assume that everyone should do it. Many other options exist out there and each choice is worthy if you make the best of it. For some of my peers community college was a good time to learn a vocational practice that would get them jobs. That option is also a good one but it does not mean you wont have to study or learn. Any choice you make and any school or institution you go to next will require hard work of you. Hard work is not foreign to us, its something we carry in our blood as the children of working parents. The work ethic of our immigrant parents can be applied to school as well. I hope this piece will help you think about your choices the next few years as you find the school, job, or place that will make you happy and help bring out your best

Jus Story
About me I was born and raised in South Korea until I was eleven years old. In South Korea, my parents had a Japanese restaurant in downtown Seoul. Due to the economic recession, my parents hardly made any income from our business. Shortly thereafter, my parents filed for bankruptcy. In the following year, my mother and my father decided to divorce. After that, I lived with my mother and my older sister, barely able to afford to buy food and a place to stay in South Korea. In 2001, my mother made a bold decision she left everything behind and decided to move to the United States to seek a better life for my sister and me. However, once we arrived in the United States, we faced a different set of challenges. Ever since I moved to this country, I grew up just like many other American students. I went to public school, spoke English, joined student groups, and participated in sports team. Most importantly, I had a dream a dream to attend college. During senior year in high school, I was filling out a college application that asked for a social security number. Since I didnt know what to write, I asked my mother about my social security number. Her response left me with confusion. I learned that my family had overstayed a tourist visa from South Korea. We are undocumented immigrants. As an undocumented immigrant, I am unable to get a job, obtain a drivers license, or receive any governmental financial aid. Knowing that I have very limited opportunities due to my immigration status, my dreams of attending college became uncertainty. Decision Although I got accepted to number of prestigious universities, my family could not afford to pay for college tuition fees especially given that I was ineligible for financial aid. As a result, I decided to attend a community college and transfer to a four-year university.

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In the beginning, I did not want to attend community college because most of my friends were going straight to four-year university and there was a negative stigma to attend community college. However, I realized that attending community college was the best decision that I have ever made in my college career. Advantages Attending community college has several advantages: Save Money Attending community college will save a lot of money. California residents pay about $46 per unit for community college courses. On the other hand, California residents pay about $406 for public university courses. By attending community college, you will not only save thousands of dollars, but also you will most likely to graduate from college and/or transfer to university without any debt. Major Attending community college will help you explore your major. According to one study, 50% - 70% of students change their majors at least once. If you havent figure out your major, you should consider attending community college because community college courses are inexpensive, which allows you to take different classes to explore around and help you define your major. Transfer Many community colleges have great resources to help you prepare and successfully transfer to four-year university. To give you an example, seven UC campuses offer guaranteed admission to California community college students who meet specific requirements. This program is widely known as TAG, or Transfer Admission Guarantee. Similarly, there are other programs and resources that could help you transfer to university and continue to pursue a higher education. Educational Trajectory: From Community College to Graduate School. I enrolled at Laney College in Oakland, pursuing an associates degree in Political Science. In freshmen year, I joined many different extracurricular activities such as student government and Asian American Association. By beginning of my sophomore year, I became the first Asian American and the youngest student body president at Laney College. I managed and balanced a Student Body budget of $90,000 governed 25 student clubs and organizations, and represented 14,000 diverse students on campus. Throughout my community college, I also worked in a Japanese restaurant as a busboy. I worked during the day and took classes during the night. Though it was difficult, I was able manage the time to study and work.After two years at Laney College, I graduated with a 3.8GPA before I transferred to the school of my dream: UC Berkeley. At UC Berkeley, I studied Political Science and stay actively involved in student government. At my last year at Cal, I ran for student government senator and was elected as the very first undocumented student government senator in UC

Berkeley history. As a Senator, I have managed and balanced the UC Berkeleys student government $1.7 million budget along with 19 other elected senators. Moreover, I managed more than 1,000 students clubs and organizations, and advocate on diverse issues related to healthcare, affordable education, and academic services. In 2012, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Science. Currently I am pursuing a masters degree in Public Administration at San Francisco State University. Once I finish my graduate school program, I hope work in a nonprofit organization, providing series and resources to underprivileged immigrant communities. Suggestion To all my soon-to-be high school graduates, In upcoming weeks, you will make a critical decision as you move onto next chapter of your life. Some of you may want to go straight to four-year university, some will be more interested in working right after high school, or others. Whatever path you decide to take, I would suggest to get advice and suggestions from your mentors, teachers, counselors, and families before you make a final decision.

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Karlas Story
My family and I fled El Salvador to the United States due to political persecution in 1993. My parents knew that in El Salvador they would always be in fear for their lives and that my sister and I would have a life of limited possibilities. I was 4 years old and unaware of the life-changing journey that we were embarking on. Though we sought out political asylum as soon as we arrived, it was not long before we realized how lengthy and expensive the immigration process would be. It wasnt until the 4th grade, however, when I realized the significance of my immigration status as we became immersed in immigration court proceedings. I learned about the fear of deportation and the dream of obtaining permanent residency. I watched how my parents worried about the never-ending bills that came with the mandatory immigration and attorney fees. Since my father worked as a dishwasher and my mother cleaned houses, their earnings were not enough to keep up with all the fees. In September 2000, after 5 long years, that day that we were anxiously awaiting for finally came; the judge made her decision and granted us permanent residency! Never in my life had I seen so much relief in my parents face. Sadly, our joy was short-lived; two months later our attorney notified us that the immigration official had decided to appeal our case. Our permanent residency was immediately revoked. My parents were crushed and torn about what to do next. Choosing to continue with our case proved to be too costly for my parents, as they had already accumulated $40,000 in debt. With the advice of our lawyer, my parents chose to apply for Temporary Protected Status. At the age of 12, TPS became my legal status. Yet, it was not until my senior year in high school that I fully realized the impact that TPS had in my life. Having TPS status allows me to legally reside and work in in the US temporarily. TPS needs to be renewed every 18 months with an application fee of $465 and there is no certainty if the current administration will continue to grant the renewal of TPS. Although TPS warrants me some security it also puts me in a state of instability. This instability seemed to be magnified in Davis, a privileged town that I grew up in where the majority of my peers were highincome and college bound. I, on the other hand, was an outlier. I was definitely not high-income and didnt quite understand what college bound meant. However, I knew that I wanted to go to college and in 2007, my senior year of high school I decided to apply. College applications had been submitted, FAFSA had been completed and admission notices were beginning to arrive. My happiness and excitement quickly turned to frustration and confusion when I was told that I could not receive financial aid due to my immigration status. I was allowed to work and get a drivers license so it did not make sense to me that I was ineligible for the Cal-Grant. I reached out to my high school counselor for help but she had no idea what TPS was or what it entailed. After various failed attempts to find someone or a college to help me finance my education, I came to term with the tough decision that attending my local community college, Sacramento City College (Sac City), would be the most feasible option for me. My first semester at Sac City was an emotional roller coaster. Coming from such a high-achieving high school, I felt like a failure for attending community college. I was denied in-state tuition based on the basis of my immigration status. I did not apply for AB 540 status because I was told, incorrectly, that I did not qualify. Consequently, I had to go to the Dean of Admissions at Sac City and file an appeal and explain my situation. She finally approved my appeal and granted me instate tuition. For the next three years at Sac City I had to repeat the tedious timeconsuming appeal process. Things finally turned around for me when I met an amazing professor. She helped me immensely and connected me with other resources on campus such as EOPS, PUENTE and RISE. My experience at Sac City allowed me to realize the privileges that I was fortunate to have. I realized that although TPS placed me in a state of political limbo, nevertheless it granted me a legal status. Unlike my friends that were undocumented, I was privileged to be able to legally work. I had a drivers license and didnt have to fear that I would be pulled-over. I was fortunate to be able to fly, within the US of course! Most importantly, for at least 18 months at a time, I did not have to live with the panic that I would be deported. During my time at Sac City I immersed myself in my academics, social activism, and most importantly I worked hard to save money to be able to transfer to a four-year. With the help and guidance of my amazing family, friends, and educators, along with my stubbornness to never give up, I was granted admission into the University of California, Berkeley. This time around, being admitted into a four-year university felt different. I was beyond thrilled to know of my admission but I was hesitant because I knew that despite my savings and scholarships I did not have the complete ability to finance an education at UC Berkeley. As much as my parents wanted to support my education, they were not in a financial place to do so. Again, I found myself scrambling to find the finances to pay for college. Fortunately, a family that my mom worked for changed my life tremendously. They offered to pay for my tuition at UC Berkeley with the agreement that I would one day do something positive for someone else. Finally, after so many obstacles and much hard work, I was able to become the first in my finally to graduate from college! In May 2012, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Science. My experiences have taught me to embrace my immigration status, something that I wish I had learned to do earlier in my life. For the longest time I feared my immigration status and was unable to adequately explain my situation to others. I also wished hat I had learned and developed a better understanding about my status at an earlier age because it would have allowed me to better seek out help. I now realize that I went through unnecessary hurdles because of my hesitancy to ask for help. Hurdles will always come our way; the important thing is to find the people and resources that will allow us to overcome them. My college education would have never been possible without the amazing people and resources that helped me so much. Fortunately, attaining a college education is now more viable thanks to the California Dream Act, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), and the various support groups and resources readily available in schools and colleges. When it comes to education and immigration the end point can often times feel like limbo, however, it is important to look at all of positive progress that has recently occurred and to never give up!

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Yo soy UNDOCUmujer
The story of how UNDOCUmujeres decided to have THE relationship talk. So there we were, four single UNDOCUmujeres in the city of San Diego and the question of finding a partner and deciding whether to disclose our undocumented status lingered in our minds. We hadnt heard of anyone discussing the ways in which being undocumented affects dating, love, or the search for partners, so we set out to do just that. Our discussion soon turned public and we ventured into the creation of the facebook page Undocupick-up Lines on November 21, 2012. The page, is the culmination of THAT private relationship talk we had about dating while undocumented.

Undocupick-up Lines is our contribution to creating the space for real dialogue about how being undocumented plays into our dating lives. We hope to be a morale boost for a community that too often gets told that undocumented isnt beautiful. WE KNOW UNDOCUMENTED IS BEAUTIFUL, and that message of love is ultimately what we hope to get across. Our hope is that these lines bring a sense of lightheartedness to the conversations about our undocumented identities, but also that they breakthrough the undocumented stigma.

-Undocupick-up Line Creators

Caro, Diana, Vivi, Rubi

Show somebody some UNDCOUlove by giving them a card. The pages that follow are filled with DIY cards for you to share. 1. PRINT 2. CUT 3. FOLD 4. GIVE

Las pginas que siguen tienen tarjetas para que puedas compartirlas.

Instructions: 1. PRINT 2. CUT 3. FOLD 4. GIVE

undocu QUEER
IS BEAUTIFUL

www.facebook.com/UndocuPickUpLines

From: To:

Instructions: 1. PRINT 2. CUT 3. FOLD 4. GIVE

BESOS not BOMBS

www.facebook.com/UndocuPickUpLines

From: To:

About the authors

David Canela is an alumni of the University of California, Berkeley and earned a Bachelors Degree in Political Science with a minor in Ethnic Studies. He is currently pursuing a JD in Civil Rights and Immigration Law at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, School of Law. He loves Colombian sensation Shakira and enjoys getting lost in the rain when in the city. You may contact him at davidcabreracanela89@gmail.com Gabriela Monico is an undocumented mujer who will be graduating this Spring of 2013 from UC Berkeley with a degree in Ethnic Studies. She hopes to attend graduate school with the intention to contribute to immigrant rights in the future. You may contact her at gabrielamonico@gmail.com Xiomara Ramos will be graduating in Spring 2013 with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and minors in Ethnic Studies and Education from the University of California, Berkeley. She was born in Autlan de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico (Guitarist Carlos Santanas birthplace), and was raised in Napa Valley. After graduation, she intends to work in a public policy organization to gain experience in the field prior to applying for joint degree programs in Public Policy and Law.

Special thanks to
Elisa Huerta Ju H. Alejandro J. Prerna Lal Ivan Lopez Daniela M. Denisse R. Meng So The Haas Leaders Program UC Berkeleys Multicultural Community Center Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education Street Level Health Project The Undocumented Student Program at UC Berkeley Undocupick-up Lines (Caro, Diana, Vivi, Ruby)

Electronic version: undocuresources.blogspot.com