I came here when I was 8 from Trinidad and really up until my sophomore year in high school I lived a normal oblivious life. The last 3 years has been the hardest years of my life because more often than not, my mom and I couldn't make ends meet. But I think that we're all a lot stronger and more determined than other people our age because we know exactly what's trying holding us back and we refuse to let it. It's a bit silly but something my mom always told me that has gotten me through every difficult time in my life is: God doesn't give you anything you can't handle.
Personally I volunteer a lot and that helps so much. I see families who live in shelters, people who don't have food on thanksgiving, people with illnesses who can't afford medication, and children who never get anything for Christmas. They're all American citizens. Here I am, without any documentation, and even at my most difficult point I have more than a good percentage of Americans. It's a struggle but we can do it for ourselves and for our parents who made the sacrifice for us.