Sin Documentos y Sin Miedo

Crecer, florecer y dar frutos es el destino de toda semilla que cae en tierra fértil. 

Los jovenes indocumentados en su mayoría llegaron aquí siendo menores de edad. Hicieron de esta tierra "su tierra" y en ella encontraron un suelo fértil para sus sueños. Desafortunadamente, los estudiantes cayeron como semillas en tierra árida. Sus sueños fueron truncados al enfrentar la realidad de no poder tener licencia para manejar, permiso para trabajar, libertad para viajar, y tener que vivir con el miedo a ser deportados. Dentro de todas estas limitaciones persiguieron un sueño mayor: El de estudiar y graduarse, esperando que al final de sus estudios esta patria les iba a ofrecer la oportunidad de quedarse.

El libro "Undocumented and Unafraid" Sin Documentos y Sin Miedo narra la historia de Tam y Cinthya, graduadas de UCLA, quienes demostraron un gran compromiso por abrir las puertas de universidades para nuestra juventud indocumentada. Tam Tran incluso dio testimonio en el 2007 ante el congreso para que aprobaran el DREAM Act: 

"Without the D.R.E.A.M. Act, I have no prospect of overcoming my state of immigration limbo; I’ll forever be a perpetual foreigner in a country where I’ve always considered myself an American." 

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/May2007/Tran070518.pdf

Lamentablemente, ellas murieron trágicamente en un accidente automovilístico en el 2010. Pero sus esfuerzos dieron paso a que los estudiantes indocumentados, amigos y seguidores, se organizaran para enfrentar esta realidad e iniciaron un movimiento estudiantil para lograr que las leyes amparen sus sueños. 

El libro es una reseña de los estudiantes activistas, los niños y niñas indocumentados que crecieron y perdieron el miedo; quienes salieron de las sombras y tomaron las riendas y dirección de sus vidas.  El esfuerzo colectivo en "Undocumented and Unafraid" lo convierte en un libro que inspira, transforma y empodera.

Check out the new book: Undocumented and Unafraid: Tam Tran, Cinthya Felix, and the Immigrant Youth Movement. Purchase your copy now!

Disappointments and Obstacles

"I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write again, especially since it was after SATs. But this past month I was very busy with personal and educational matters. I had final exams to study for, projects, tests, worrying about my report card, helping out in school, and on top of all that I’ve had some complications with my Grandma’s health which of course puts her and her health as my top priority. 

Any who, I received the results from my SATs, after waiting about 3 weeks, and I’m sad to say I did not do as well as I wanted to. I guess I was letting the pressure of wanting to do good and the stress of over studying get to me. I’d prefer not to state my scores, but they weren’t what I wanted, so I am definitely spending my entire summer for preparing my next SAT day. This time I’ll make sure I do extravagant, enough for me to get into the colleges of my choice, especially because I have finally decided on the 7 I want to apply to. 

Of course this year brings many difficulties but I’m going to strive to keep my grades up, in order to get into the colleges of my choice. Although it’s summer I have a lot on my plate, what with AP work, college essays, soccer, my grandma, chores, and trying to enjoy my summer with friends and family. These 2 months are going to fly by but I have to make it worth it. In the end I know I’ll be fine, because in all honesty anything worse than the work is the stress and anxiety of the outcome."

-Zabby

These posts are written by Zabby Pardo Moreno, a Latina student at Manchester High School in New Jersey; a National Honor Society student pursuing her dream of getting into an Ivy League University.

Zabby's Big SAT Day!

So today was the day. I took the SATs… want to know my true opinion? They were torture, 5 hours of sitting in a small desk in William Paterson University with the room packed, equals exhausting. Once I finished I swear I heard my brain sizzle; that’s enough thinking and brain power in one day.

To be honest, the math section wasn’t as bad as I expected, it was bearable. But the reading passages were the problem and became tedious since they were practically everywhere. Overall I think I did fine. I had a goal of scoring a 1900 because most schools I want, require an 1800 but we’ll see what happens when the score comes in. But I’m thinking on the positive side; I studied my hardest all week, rested up the night before, and tried my hardest today. Hopefully it paid off, and if I don’t get the score I was looking for then I can try again in October. But when I try in October I hope to do even better after I take an SAT class maybe that will help me a little more.

For now I’m glad this torture is over and I can relax and prepare for the end of the school year. Actually I just spoke to my guidance counselor on Friday about when to start applying to college and when I should have my college essays done and I got my information. So now my next goal, start college essays over the summer. But first… I have to make it past final exams. Oh goodness!

These posts are written by Zabby Pardo Moreno, a Latina student at Manchester High School in New Jersey; a National Honor Society student pursuing her dream of getting into an Ivy League University.

Zabby's down to business: SAT studying

Hello everyone, my name is Zabrina Pardo, though to most of my friends I’m known as Zabby. This spring break has been hectic and a little overwhelming mainly because I’ve been studying for my SATs scheduled for next Saturday. I’m pretty nervous for this test; I know I have the opportunity to take it as many times as I desire but still I want to do really well right off the bat.

When you think about it, it’s a lot of pressure because my scholarships depend on these next few days. I know I need to push the studying to the edge even more. Hopefully I will do well; I just have to continue to work hard, it’ll be a relief after it’s over. One more week and I can relax from this stress.

Thinking it over, it’s crazy how my Junior year is about to end, time should slow down a little so I can continue to enjoy my high school years before they're over. I’ll try to keep you updated after my SATs! 

Thanks for reading, now back to my SAT Sunday!

[photo credit: http://www.uscollegesearch.org/

Zabby emprende su camino hacia Cornell

Les presento a Zabby Pardo-Moreno, miembro de la sociedad nacional de estudiantes con honores académicos (en Ingles es el National Honor Society), también es estudiante con altos Honores en  Manchester Regional High School, NJ. Actualmente está activa en varios grupos escolares como el consejo estudiantil, liderazgo juvenil, comité de mediación, equipo de volleyball, e InterAct, entre otros. Pero su mayor satisfacción la recibe al hacer la diferencia en el programa Make a Difference en el cual implementa actividades de diversión e inclusión para los estudiantes con necesidades especiales. Ella estudia el 11o. grado en la escuela superior y desea seguir la carrera de Sicología en la Universidad de Cornell. Cuando no está en la escuela, la encontrarán dando servicio voluntario en el Liberty Science Center.

Ana, la madre de Zabby, es madre soltera que soporta economicamente a su mamá y su hija con un presupuesto bastante limitado. Sin embargo, gana demasiado para calificar para cualquier clase de asistencia. Por lo cual, Zabby no recibe nada gratis, nisiquiera un almuerzo en la escuela.  Ana está muy orgullosa de su hija y la apoya totalmente pero el sueño de tener un título de una universidad del rango de Cornell está fuera de su alcance. "Nisiquiera sé de donde voy a sacar dinero para el costo de las solicitudes para las universidades" -dice Ana- al saber que el costo de educación en una escuela del calíbre "Ivy League" es más que su propio ingreso anual.

Acabo de compartir con ellas la información que recibí durante la fiesta de #LATISM (Latinos en Social Media) por medio de Twitter, a la cual asistieron representantes de Univision y el proyecto "Es El Momento". Ana y Zabby estan emocionadas al enterarse que hay medios y opciones para alcanzar metas educativas. El equipo de trabajo Madre-e-Hija se ha fijado metas altas. Su siguiente paso es encontrar el financiamiento para la universidad. Durante las próximas semanas, su trabajo se enfocará en averiguar todo lo relacionado a las becas, especialmente para estudiantes Latinos.

Preparar un buen portafolio y comenzar tempranito son elementos importantes para no perder la oportunidad y para no someter aplicaciones tardías. Siempre lo he dicho, entre un sueño y la realidad existe un plan de acción. El próximo paso de Zabby y Ana es un paso inteligente. Y... ¿Cuál es tu plan?

Estaré documentando el progreso aquí en mi AGENDA blog para que la experiencia de este dúo sea compartida con otros padres que enfrentan el mismo reto.  Les invito que pasen de nuevo a leer mi agenda, comentar y compartir con nosotros sus consejitos.

Para aprender más visite:

ES EL MOMENTO                                                                   LATISM

                

            

Zabby's road to Cornell

Meet Zabby Pardo-Moreno, a National Honor Society member and High Honor Roll Student at Manchester Regional High School, NJ. She is involved in several school groups including the student council, youth leadership, peer mediation, volleyball team, and InterAct, among others. Her most rewarding work is with the Make a Difference Program, implementing fun activities to bring together students with special needs and the rest of the student body. She is  a Junior and wants to study Psychology at Cornell University. Outside school, you will find her volunteering at the Liberty Science Center.

Zabby’s mom, Ana, is a single mother who provides financial support for her mom and her daughter with an extremely limited budget. Yet, she earns too much to get any kind of assistance. So, there is no free school lunch for Zabby. Ana is a proud and supportive parent but the dream of having a professional degree from a top notch university is out of her reach. “I don’t even know how I’m going to come up with the money to cover college application fees” –she says- realizing that the Ivy League school her daughter wants to attend, costs more than she earns per year.

I shared with them the information I learned during the #LATISM family twitter party with representatives of Univision’s “Es El Momento”. Ana and Zabby were thrilled to learn that there are resources and options. The mother-daughter team have set high goals; their next step is to find ways to finance college. Over the next few weeks, their work will focus on researching all about scholarships.

Preparing a good portfolio is key and starting early is important so you don't miss the dreadful application deadlines. I’ve always said between a dream and a reality there is an action plan. Their next step is an intelligent one.  What is your plan?

I will be documenting their progress here in my blog to share their experience with other parents who are facing these same challenges.  So stop by to read, comment, and share your tips.

To learn more visit:

ES EL MOMENTO                                           LATISM