Day of Acknowledgement

Before the craziness of today begins, I want to just remind you all to be thankful for everything you have and don't have. I am not excluded from those who fall into taking life and parts of life for granted. I can't say I am regularly thankful for the wonderful things in my life but because I am constantly reminded of the limitations of my life, I am forced to stop and recognize that the things I don't have yet, have a purpose for their absence. I won't keep you here long.

I just want to share how grateful I am to have this exact life. There is no recipe for the perfect balance in a person to be aware of the privilege they are in. Yes, I feel privileged for this life, this very life, nothing changed. Thankful for the things I've had to live through simply because of the beautiful and amazing people life has wanted me to encounter and the many things I've learned with them.

From the deepest part of my heart I hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones. Don't ever regret not having something in your life, there is a reason for why everything is and isn't, that is one of the main things I have had to learn in my life.

MUCH LOVE!!!

Immigration Law in CA

Check out this craziness some guy is trying to get out on the ballot in 2012: CA to have immigration law mirroring AZ law tsktsk! Does this guy not know what state he lives in? Not see who was most present at this last election? Even I heard Hispanic voters came out to specifically oppose runners opposing laws against immigration. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens with this. I personally think it's going to flop but voters always surprise, so I'm looking forward to see how this goes.

Update on Steve Li

Steve Li has been released! There are beautiful people out there in the world who actually take their political positions seriously and want to use it for justice and the well-being of people, citizens or not. I can't imagine what Li must have gone through, not knowing that his status here in the U.S. was not considered "legal". What I wonder is how did he not realize his undocumented status when trying to get a job? Did he never attempt to get a job because he's a student? What motivated student doesn't attempt to get a job to enrich his background, especially someone who knows where they want to go. To save money for school.

I hope that with Li's story, people become aware of how badly the DREAM needs to be passed. There are so many people out there like Li who probably have no idea they are undocumented and will be faced with the horrid truth one day and won't be able to move on with their lives because they can't afford school or life.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are ready for the festivities to come this week (Thanksgiving for those of you outside the U.S.)

Thanks for caring.

Here's a quote I came across today I want to leave you with.
"Always Remember:
you're Braver than you Believe,
and Stronger than you Seem,
and Smarter than you think."
Christopher Robin


MUCH LOVE!!!

Decision on In-State Tuition

Once again so eternally grateful I live in the Greatest state of the United States of America, the Golden State, CALIFORNIA! "the California Supreme Court unanimously upheld a state law which allows certain nonresidents, including some undocumented students, who attend and graduate from a California high school to pay in-state tuition at the state's public colleges and universities" (UC Newsroom). This is not financial aid in any form! We are still financially responsible for tuition, books, rent, food, transportation, you haters out there need to open up your eyes and realize that our life is already difficult enough. There is nothing worse than denying someone an education, well there are worst things - but of all the things you can fight, why are you trying to deny an education when you can give it?! Like I mentioned in the last post, we are competing in the same pool, if we are academically superior to other students (documented or not) why should we be denied the opportunity to study? It's a fair competition!

Here is the Court's decision in full.

Life is ultimately fair.

MUCH LOVE!!!

being undocumented isn't expensive or painful enough

Just found an article on this, the Supreme Court is making a decision today on whether undocumented students should pay a higher tuition. I tried looking for the decision but don't see it anywhere, if anyone finds out about it please post it, if not I will be posting later this week on the decision the Court came to.

In my attempt to find out what the Supreme Court decided on, I found this very interesting site: Arguments for making undocumented immigrants pay out-of-state tuition. This is making my head spin. The admissions board doesn't give an undocumented student any benefit for being undocumented. The undocumented student is competing for admission just like all the other students. There is no favor being given to us by being allowed to pay in-state-tuition, simply a greater pressure because if given admission to a university you find yourself in a tight place for making that tuition. I've read so many articles on undocumented students who get admitted to an awesome school, and they are unable to complete their education because they can't afford to even pay that tuition. This makes absolutely no sense! If we can't work how are we to make ends meet for tuition?! It's not to say we don't make it happen when the world is against us, we do and that makes us so much stronger. Those of us who have been lucky to have parents who can make the financial sacrifices to put us through school make it, but what of all those who can't even get through school?! People are so infuriating sometimes.

Allow me to remind myself to take a deep breath . . . and remind myself that despite all the ugly and hatred out there in the world some of us are making it and will be able to make a difference one day.

Thank you for following.

MUCH LOVE!!!

Steve Li

Steve Li's deportation is being delayed!

A Ying and a Yang

What threat does a Nursing student pose the national security? ICE claims to be focusing it's efforts on deporting people who are dangerous, since when are nurses dangerous? Read about Li, a 20 year old being deported to Peru, a country he can't even call his home, where there is no one for him to call family.

Li's situation really makes my heart sink. While I've been celebrating, hardly believing what is happening in my life, someone else in the same state I absolutely love, also can't believe what is happening in his life. I can't wait to have a voice and have the opportunity to have an effect on the unfair ways immigration throws people out of their home.
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On a personal note, the packet for my adjustment of status will be filed this Monday. I am going to make so much of this life, I will make a conscious effort to make no waste of opportunities. This entire wait will be worth a million lifetimes, there is no greater gift in life than the opportunity I've been given. I feel like I've lived life with my feet on two different sides of so many aspects of life. It's like I've been watching my life through a glass window this entire time, I'm like that kid who's been promised a puppy her entire life and she's finally getting it. I am getting the most precious puppy ever!!

Hope my readers are well, thanks for reading.

MUCH LOVE!!!

breaking the suspense

Here it is, I am getting my GREEN CARD(<- I wish I could control the color)!

This last week has been the most exciting week in about six years. Been running around getting passport photos, getting medically evaluated (to make sure I'm not bringing any crazy diseases into a country I've been living in for 16 years), and going to the attorney's office. This coming week is going to be about the same most likely, but not as hectic hopefully.

It still feels very unreal, I don't think it's going to sink in until I am holding that little green card in my hand, maybe even then it won't feel real just yet. The day I am holding a CA government issued ID, I think that'll be the day I flip for real. Makes my head float just thinking about it. I can't even put into words how happy I am, it is too much happiness for one person. For this reason I am so grateful that I have so many people I can share this joy with otherwise I don't think I could survive this . . . just like I wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for you.

Now I can seriously ask what I'm supposed to be doing to get into Grad school, get a job, EXIST! This is what Pinocchio must've felt like when he turned into a real boy . . .

Again thank you to all who have been with me and continue to be in my life.

MUCH LOVE!!!

the winds are changing

I must say my head is spinning right now, I'm feeling like I did the day I found out I was going to a real University. Life has always given me so much more than I imagined possible and am very confident about the events to follow.

Life is the one thing you don't quit. Never ever give up on what you know you deserve.

More news to come! I'm seeing my attorney this afternoon :)

MUCH LOVE!!!

today can be the most amazing day of your life

Today marks a day for new beginnings, a new world, new heights, no limits.

I received a document from the Department of Homeland Security, stating that "the DHS joins the respondent's [mine] motion to reopen proceedings and terminate without prejudice so that the respondent can pursue an adjustment of status application before the DHS, Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). Accordingly, the motion to reopen is granted and these proceedings are terminated without prejudice."

This means proceedings for status adjustment can be initiated now, remember I've already filled out all the necessary paperwork. Now what remains is paying the immigration fees to file all the paperwork, most importantly getting in touch with my attorney which should be happening soon. I've just faxed the paperwork to her office. Hopefully I'll hear from her this week, and we shall see what happens!!

My loved ones, this bird will be set free very soon. World watch out.

MUCH LOVE!!!!!!