Story #1:
Janet:
Once I received the news after school, things felt off. The despair of not knowing when I’ll be able to see or hear my dad was driving me crazy. Once I stepped home, all I wanted to do was be alone. To try and process everything that was going on felt nearly impossible. With this situation going on, school was enormously difficult. I wasn’t able to focus anymore. I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, see anyone or think of anything. All I wanted was my dad back at home, with me. Days and days passed but nothing had changed. My lack of focus would just increase and increase. After maybe a month or so I kind of started to get my grades back up again. Although it wasn’t anything easy. Once school would be over I would run back home waiting for my dad’s call. It was all just a repeated schedule. Wake up, go to school, come back home & wait for my dad’s call. After a couple of months, things didn’t turn out well. The deportation of my dad had all my family in shock. We didn’t know what to do. Maybe about a week or so, my mom made a plan to move to California so I’ll be able to visit my dad once in a while. For spring break I went to Mexico with my younger sister to visit him for the week. During that week, my dad had told me that it would be better if my sister and I permanently stayed with him since it’s been months without being able to do so. At first, I didn’t want to. Just thinking about moving to a whole new different country and going to a school where everyone speaks Spanish made me feel scared. But I thought about my dad, I put myself in his shoes and I couldn’t tell him no. Once I came back to California I spent a couple of days packing things I would need and saying goodbye to my mom and younger brother. After about 5 hours I got to my dad’s place. Everything was completely different in comparison to California. I had no choice but to get used to everything around me. Get used to how everything works in Mexico. I got enrolled in a new school not so long after I moved in with my dad. Honestly, I felt nervous. It was my first time being the new kid. During that whole day, I barely talked to anyone. Some of my classmates even assumed I didn’t speak Spanish since I came from

the U.S. My dad had gotten a notice that I would have to start wearing a uniform. I hated the thought of it but I also hated getting in trouble. So I had no choice. I guess I got used to it though. In about a week or so I started making friends and everything seemed to be normal again. After school, my mom would call me asking how class was and if I was doing alright. Months passed and I decided to move back with my mom. And I did. Now I try to visit my dad as much as I can. Whether that will be during Christmas break, spring break, or summer break. Although this was years ago, I still feel as if everything happened yesterday. Not seeing my dad, moving to a completely different state, leaving my friends and family. To this day it’s kind of hard thinking about how drastically my life has changed. But with my dad’s deportation, I tried to see the positive side. I made new friends here in California and Mexico. I met more family and now I’m even trying to start college as a high school student. Without all of this happening, who knows where I would’ve been. Yes, it’s hard, but everything will always have a positive as well as a negative side to a story.

Story #2
Giselle:
Growing up my only language was Spanish until I reached school and I was forced to learn English with no reinforcement or practice at home because my parents couldn't speak English as well. Because of not understanding the language, I felt like that hindered my learning ability and it made things more challenging for me. Although I was at a disadvantage from my other classmates whereas English was their first language, I still strive to get really good grades and focus in class. Since both of my parents came from another country, they had a different language, different culture, and different understanding so they weren't able to help with school or to help me assimilate from home life to school life. Even if learning another language was hard, I met in the middle with immigration when I was applying to college and competing for a spot. Because of my background and history, I stood out from other students who were applying to the same program and sparked an interest in the program director. She spoke to me personally on multiple occasions and I was accepted into the program just because I had a quote on quote “interesting background.”

Story #3
Lupe:
Immigration, many people migrate from countries to countries in hopes of a better life or future. One way immigration has benefited me was my parents. If it were not for my parents migrating to this country I would never have the opportunities I have, much less the future it has provided for me and my family. While there are benefits to immigration, immigration could also be seen in a different light, for example, immigration is what is preventing my family and me from reuniting with my grandmother in America which would be a disadvantage. Immigration can be a long and lengthy process benefiting oneself or separating others.

Story #4
Marisol:
For the first time, when I was in third grade, I found myself in a school where English was the only language spoken. My family had arrived in the United States from Mexico with no resources and little understanding of the English language. I had to talk on my parents' behalf to teachers, salespeople, and even doctors. My family's health choices were often focused on how well my siblings and I could interact, comprehend structures, and speak for ourselves. I wasn't very good at it, but we didn't have a choice. It was difficult not to see a correlation between the challenges we faced as immigrants and the trends I started to notice in my own family and in other low-income Latino families in my neighborhood- alcohol, teenage pregnancies, and substance abuse, and high school dropouts. My teacher asked me to join the more educated students in my class when I was in sixth grade. I couldn't believe it, a child whose parents didn't speak English and whose mother had never even graduated from elementary school. I went on to become the first person in my family to attend college. I'm beyond excited to start courses that emphasize human rights and cultural aspects of health problems. As a Latina immigrant from a low-income and Spanish-speaking family, I am prepared for the obstacles that come my way.

Story #5
Andrea:
I was born and raised in California, a state known for its delicious fruits and scorching weather. My parents valued hard work, schooling, and a sense of social obligation, as did many other immigrant parents. In high school, I decided to pursue a career in public health. As I volunteered at a hospital, I saw immigrant patients who put off seeking help until their conditions became intolerable. They were unable to receive preventive care due to a lack of access due to immigration status or socioeconomic status. I worked at a free clinic as an undergraduate and learned that getting to the clinic is just the first challenge. I noticed language barriers when interpreting for patients. After one visit, one patient approached me because she didn't understand her prescription instructions and was too afraid to ask her doctor. My own mother has experienced the frustrations of attempting to control their diabetes with complicated drug regimens and side effects. I've seen the social and financial challenges they face as they try to navigate the healthcare system. Fixing this issue is my next step, and I know that I will overcome it.

Story #6
Jossie:
I never thought I’d be separated from my dad. After hearing that he had to leave the US to take care of my grandparents, I knew that was a sign that he wouldn’t and couldn’t come back. But how could I stop him from visiting his parents in Mexico after hearing that they might have COVID-19? How could I tell my own father not to go to take care of them? So I didn’t, I prepared for the worst and hoped that if he did try to come back to the US, that he would live. Coming back to the US and being an illegal immigrant is not easy. You have to go through about 3 days of walking with almost no food or water. My dad isn’t young, he’s maturing and can’t walk or do things for a certain time, or else he’ll get tired. I decided to tell myself that I shouldn’t think about that. So I focused on school but even if my teachers gave me 100 assignments per day, I kept wondering what my dad was doing and if he was okay. One night after leaving my last zoom meeting, I was told that my grandpa had passed away. That same virus that made my dad leave just killed his father. I didn’t know what to do or how to react. I cried as any other person would. I felt as if everything changed, but the good thing was that I could still visit my dad. THat’s what we did, we went to Mexico for 2-3 months so we could spend time with him. IT was probably the best months of my life because I used to never be able to travel to Mexico with him. When we came back, we all couldn’t stop crying on the plane back. Because of immigration and how your status affects people, my dad was able to see his parents but wasn’t able to come back. Although I loathed the topic of hearing that my dad could get badly injured if he tried to come back, I was however benefited from immigration. If it weren’t for my mom and his dad immigrating to America and registering for residency and even citizenship, I probably wouldn’t even be here. At this very moment, my dad is negotiating with himself whether he thinks he can make it or not. He’s thinking about how to recruit the money and how he’ll be able to live if he tries to come back to the US. Although it’s taken a toll on my family, it’s brought us closer together.