pswa83 302 Posted December 12, 2012 Ok, so I thought I would start a post about what we, as DACA applicants, have done since we have been approved. I know that there are still a lot of people waiting to get approved and this is not meant to make them sad but to show them that, even if, we as DACA applicants, may not have legal status, we can still be productive people. Here's my experience: Before DACA, all I could do was work minimum wage jobs (for a short time) and just try to get by with what I had. I lived with my mother and my sister and stayed home pretty much most of the time. It was depressing know that my sister and brother could do what ever they wanted and I couldnt. Sitting at home day after day sucked big time!!! After I sent in my applications, I started to look for jobs that I knew I could do and would just hope that my past job experience was good enough to at least get my foot in the door. I was approved a week after my bio (yes, i know it was fast. took me off guard). After I was approved, I got my SSN, DL and State ID and more importantly, I got a job. To be able to get up every day (well, monday thru friday) and get ready for work is a feeling of accomplishment. And a feeling of usefulness. I finally feel like I am a person. Not just a living person but a person on paper too. To show my DL, is like showing someone a golden ticket. Like "yes, that is me and i am a person". But in finally having all this there is a sense of responsibility that comes along with all of this. The responsibility of showing America that we are not the free-loading people that some make us out to be. And we are not here to just have "anchor babies". That we are of use, not only to our families but the America as a whole. That we do not want to be given (ok, maybe a little) amnesty but at least given the chance to become as American as we feel. I have been in the country all my life. 29 years. (yes, i know, i'm old, lol) and throughout my years I have heard talked about Immigration Reform to only never see it go anywhere. I honestly and truly hope that 2013 is our year and that those who doubt us will have those doubts wiped away in the coming years. “There is a significant moral difference between a person who commits a violent crime and a person who tries to cross a border illegally in order to put food on the family table. Such migrants my violate our laws against illicit entry, but if that's all they do they are trespassers, not criminals. They deserve to have their dignity respected.” ― Madeleine Albright, Memo to the President Elect LP: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership 6 roadrunner11, outofmxny, amor and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadrunner11 167 Posted December 12, 2012 Thoughts after being approved... I am not sure if a post is enough to express all the thinking I have done in the past 2 months. Going from having just mere hope and deception to waking up to a "real" life it is almost surreal. In High School I worked hard and always knew my status was a bump on the road. In college, I decided to try even harder even though I knew it was a dead end after four years. College graduation was bitter sweet. I was leaving the only comfort and stability in my life. I can tell in my pictures I was beyond appalled. The piece of paper meant "nothing" but EVERYTHING at the same time. I had jobs I hated for a while where I was discriminated against and felt completely depressed. Inside of me I felt somewhat bitter because I knew I could do contribute way more than I was able to. I was working the Friday they announced DACA and my boss, who is almost like my dad, told me Obama had announced something that he thought could benefit me. Him and his wife have been a second set of parents for me. I owe them my college education and more. I felt numb and almost thought it was another political joke. Then, my mom called and confirmed it. I gathered my documents and applied a few days after DACA was available. The day of my biometrics appointment I was a disaster. I forgot how to sign my name and my EAD reflects my horrendous state of mind. My signature is 3 letters and my picture might as well be used for a wanted poster. After waiting 3 weeks, I was approved and the day I got my EAD I applied to jobs everywhere. It took me almost 2 more months to get the job I had always wanted. I am finally able to use my college degree and my skills. In a few weeks, I will have health insurance something that seemed never was going to happen. On my way back from work, I always thank God for the blessings I had in the past when I didn't have DACA and now. I find myself a happier person who finds excitement in very small things like season changes. However, I look back and think how all those years of uncertainty were not "useless" as I had thought. They were filled with things that kept me going and most importantly they helped me built character and skills that led me to this new life. 1 amor reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
REPutation 83 Posted December 25, 2012 Well my story is not as elaborate as yalls. Never had a job and was unable to do anything, espcially having a single parent as the sole person of responsibility. Now with the daca ead, I feel a great responsibility to help out my mother. As noted in my signature, I have been approved, received my social, and JUST got my ID. Getting my permit this week and still firmly and religiously searching for a job. It's not easy. I am happy. But it is still a new feeling. I still feel like the happiness can be snatched in any given minute. Maybe it's due to my situation 1 outofmxny reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
