Daca-mented and Proud by Areesha
Areesha's entry into Varsity Tutor's May 2022 scholarship contest
- Rank:
- 5 Votes
Daca-mented and Proud by Areesha - May 2022 Scholarship Essay
I opened my phone to find a message from one of my peers in the class group chat in response to a news article sent about immigrants. “Seeing how hard my parents worked for their citizenship, undocumented persons disgust me.” The message stung. I put my phone back down and tried to distract myself from the harsh message. That wasn’t my first time hearing that type of statement and probably wouldn’t be my last either. I was aware of how people viewed me and my family. I’ve seen with my own eyes how my parents built a life for themselves in a new country, without any money or help. Despite it all, I couldn’t help but internalize the negative perception we received. It felt like no matter what I or my family would achieve, it would always be tainted by the fact that we were undocumented. Even the label we were given as ‘Illegal Aliens’ told us that we weren’t like everyone else. My entire adolescence was spent trying to feel equal to my peers even though I feared sudden deportation. Growing up, I heard stories of my parent’s friends who were suddenly deported, leaving behind entire families to fend for themselves. It invoked a sense of insecurity about where we were. Nowhere really feels like home when you can be evicted any minute. My parents always pushed me to work hard but it felt like I was running a race with no finish line. The idea of trying to build a life seemed impossible when it could be taken away in a day.
When I was 14, I received DACA for the very first time. I felt ecstatic. I was suddenly able to work and drive if I wanted to. Most importantly, I had temporary protection from being deported. The fear I carried of leaving everything behind slowly diminished. It felt like there was a finish line in the distance, for once. However, I also felt immense guilt because I was awarded a privilege while my parents still had to hide in the shadows. We struggled as a family, but I was the only one who received any type of protection. The onus now passed to me to help my parents.
When I started college, I was determined to succeed, knowing the success would be for my parents as well. Through the classes I’ve taken, the activities I’ve participated in and the people I’ve met, I realized the path to success didn't have to center around getting my citizenship. My path could be different, it could be one that takes the fear and instability I felt and channel it into a legal career that supports those who have felt the same way. Through keeping resilience and hope throughout my life, I have found that it’s possible to bear any adversity that has been thrown my way. Adversity never wanes but my response can soften the blow. Life may not always go according to plan but through adapting I have found that I can still find hope and enjoyment nonetheless.
I hope to attend law school and use my legal education to help others who may not have the means to navigate the legal system. I hope to carry on the message of hope and resilience to those who need it most.