Humanize: Stories of Immigrants
Dana, Mulania, Alejandro
Episode 2 | 26m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Immigrants who now call Colorado their home, share their stories.
Dana Rodriguez grew up on a farm in Chihuahua, but fled to Colorado to escape gang violence and seek a better life for her daughters. Mulania Bathin is Karen from Burma who made her way to America with her family as refugees of the world’s longest civil war. Alejandro Fuentes Mena arrived in the U.S. at the age of 4 as an undocumented immigrant from Chile, but is now ‘DACA-mented', as he says.
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Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Humanize: Stories of Immigrants is a local public television program presented by PBS12
Humanize: Stories of Immigrants
Dana, Mulania, Alejandro
Episode 2 | 26m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Dana Rodriguez grew up on a farm in Chihuahua, but fled to Colorado to escape gang violence and seek a better life for her daughters. Mulania Bathin is Karen from Burma who made her way to America with her family as refugees of the world’s longest civil war. Alejandro Fuentes Mena arrived in the U.S. at the age of 4 as an undocumented immigrant from Chile, but is now ‘DACA-mented', as he says.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Humanize: Stories of Immigrants
Humanize: Stories of Immigrants is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> I ALWAYS SAY THAT FOOD, DRINK, AND MUSIC THOSE ARE THREE THINGS THAT PUT PEOPLE TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE RULES I HAVE IN MY RESTAURANTS EVERY DAY YOU CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THEY CAN COME FROM A FUNERAL.
THEY CAN COME FROM A DIVORCE.
THEY CAN HAVE BAD NEWS FROM FAMILY.
WHEN THEY COME HERE YOUR JOB IS TO CHANGE THAT MOMENT AND MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER WHILE THEY ARE WITH YOU.
I'M DANE THAT RODRIGUEZ CHEF PARTNER OF CASA BONITA.
.
I GREW UP IN A FARM.
I'M AN ONLY CHILD.
MY MOM HAD A LITTLE GROCERY STORE.
THAT IS WHAT RESTAURANTS ARE.
SO EVERYTHING THAT I LEARN WHEN I WAS LITTLE I APPLY LATER NOW IN MY LIFE.
IT WAS AMAZING.
THINGS STARTED GETTING CRAZY IN THE BORDER IN 1990s.
IT WAS PRETTY BAD.
I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS.
SO THINGS START GETTING BRUTAL.
FOR ALL OF US THAT HAVE A SMALL LITTLE RETAIL PLACES YOU COULD NOT LIVE THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE EITHER KIDNAP ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS OR SEE SHOOTINGS WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THERE IS A DEAD BODY ON THE SIDE.
IT BECOMES A NORMAL LIFE.
I'M A STRONG WOMAN BUT I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO GROW FORCES THEMSELVES STRONG WHEN THEY ARE LITTLE.
I DECIDED TO MOVE TO THE STATES.
IT WAS SAFER BETWEEN BORDER AND HERE YOU ARE RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE.
YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE AMERICAN DREAMS.
IN MY 20s I DON'T THINK HOW THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE UNTIL YOU GET YOURSELF IN HERE AND YOU START UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.
I APPLY FOR PROTECTION FOR ME AND MY KIDS.
MY DAUGHTER'S FATHER WAS KILL BY THE MAFIA THERE.
I WAS 20.
I HAD THREE KIDS.
I LAND HERE TO SEE MY UNCLE AND MY COUSIN.
THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT.
EVERYTHING.
THIS FEELS LIKE HOME.
THAT'S WHEN THE WHOLE JOURNEY START.
THAT'S WHEN I LAND HERE IN 1998.
I APPLIED AT CASA BONITA.
I STARTED MAKING FRIENDS RIGHT AWAY.
I REMEMBER IN MY THIRD JOB, THIS GUY CAME IN AND SAID YOU ARE NEW.
I SAID YEAH, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING?
DO YOU KNOW THE STORES TO GET THE ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT A GIRL NEEDS?
ANOTHER GIRL CAME WITH A LITTLE ZIPLOC BAG WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS.
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS WHEN YOU GET HERE.
PEOPLE IS KIND HERE.
COMING FROM A CRAZY BORDER, YOU FEEL SAFE.
I FEEL SAFE.
IN THE BEGINNING I LEAVE MY THREE DAUGHTERS.
THEY STAYED WITH MY PARENTS.
I WENT TO SEE A FEW CITIES.
I FIND DENVER.
I DECIDE TO STAY HERE.
SIX MONTH LATER I BRING MY PARENTS AND MY THREE DAUGHTERS.
THE FIRST TWO LADIES TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PARTNER IN THE RESTAURANT.
I'M STILL A PARTNER WITH THEM.
I DECIDED TO OPEN MY OWN BUSINESSES.
MY DAUGHTER ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING IN THE UNITED STATES.
ALL OF MY RESTAURANTS ARE BASED ON A FEW THINGS.
TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE, TO HELP OTHERS, AND TO LEAVE A LEGACY IN YOUR LIFE.
THERE IS SO MUCH YOU CAN DO TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS WE CAN PROVIDE FOR 70 NON-PROFITS.
WE CAN HELP THOSE PEOPLE.
IT IS MORE THAN A CULTURE, IT IS A LEGACY.
I'M HERE FOR A PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE.
TO HELP ALL OF YOU GUYS TO GROW, TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM.
YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THAT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW FOR IMMIGRANTS.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LEARN TO APPLY TO OPEN A BUSINESS?
IT IS A WHOLE JOURNEY IT IS CLOSE IN AN AMAZING WAY.
IT IS A PROCESS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU JUST HAVE TO PROVE AND SHOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT IS THE REASON YOU ARE HERE.
HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR EVERYTHING.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NEVER GIVE UP.
NEVER GIVE UP.
KEEP SEARCHING FOR HELP AND YOU WILL FIND IT.
WHEN YOU FIND THAT, YOU CONTINUE WITH YOUR LIFE AND BUILD AMAZING THINGS.
I ALWAYS SAY IF ONE OF MY BUSINESS CLOSE IT IS NOT BECAUSE I FAIL.
IT IS A LEARNING PROCESS.
I LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
WHEN I CONTINUE DOING TEN MORE I KNOW WHAT I DO WRITE AND WRONG.
IT IS NEVER ABOUT IF YOU ACCOMPLISH THINGS OR NOT.
IT'S LIKE HOW YOU FEEL IT THAT YOU PUT EVERYTHING INTO IT.
YOU MAKE THINGS WORK IF YOU WORK HARD.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR LIFE, FOR YOUR FAMILY, FOR YOUR FUTURE.
YOU FIND THE TIME TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO EDUCATE YOURSELF AND FIND THE PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU.
THE NETWORK IS YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE UNITED STATES TO ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER DREAM YOU HAVE.
LAST TUESDAY I WENT TO DO MY CITIZENSHIP TEST.
IT WAS EXCITING.
IT TOOK ME 26 YEARS.
IT IS A LOT OF THINGS.
YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF PROCESS.
IT IS A LONG PROCESS.
A LOT OF PAPER WORK.
A LOT OF THINGS.
IT IS A REALLY GOOD FEELING WHEN YOU GET IT.
I'M INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I HATE POLITICAL STUFF.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STEP UP AND SHOW.
WHEN I HAVE MEETINGS WITH ANYONE IN THE GOVERNMENT, I ALWAYS SAY, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE DECISIONS AND ALL THAT I HAVE FOR IMMIGRANTS, FOR BUSINESSES THEY ARE EDUCATED PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE NOT EDUCATED ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
PEOPLE JUDGE BEFORE THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM.
INSTEAD OF HELPING THEY MAKE THINGS WORSE.
IT IS THEIR JOB TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THEY CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW WHAT OUR NEEDS.
SO, I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS THE SOLUTION AND MAKE IT BETWEEN THE ONES THAT MAKE THE DECISION AND THE ONES THAT ARE IN NEED.
ONE THING I TELL MY KIDS NEVER STOP LEARNING, ALWAYS EDUCATE YOURSELF.
IGNORANCE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THING IN OUR COUNTRIES.
I THINK HERE YOU HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A BETTER LIFE.
YOU HAVE A CULTURE, YOU HAVE A PHILOSOPHY, YOU HAVE A LEGACY, YOU HAVE A FAMILY.
>> I DO IDENTIFY MYSELF AS A CHILD REFUGEE.
I SAY I WAS A REFUGEE.
I'M A COURT INTERPRETER IN THE STATE OF COLORADO.
MY PLACE OF BIRTH IS THAILAND.
MY ETHNICITY IS -- IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT BE IN THAT VICTIM MENTALITY.
I CAN LEAVE THE PAST MANY THE PAST AND FOCUS ON BETTER THINGS THAN JUST LIVING IN THE PAST AND FOCUSING ON THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT MY FAMILY HAD TO ENDURE.
I THINK IN MY COMMUNITY IT WAS JUST LIFE.
WE JUST LIVED THROUGH IT AND MOVED FORWARD.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE.
MY STORY IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE FROM MY COMMUNITY.
THAT'S BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER WAS A POLITICIAN.
AND SO I REMEMBER VIVIDLY HOW HAPPY AND LOVING MY COMMUNITY WAS.
WE LIVED IN A NORMAL HOUSE.
WE HAD ESSENTIALLY A NORMAL LIFE.
WHEN I WAS SEVEN THAT IS WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGED.
WE WERE TOLD THE SOLDIERS ARE COMING.
WE HAVE TO GO.
AND YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY PICK UP WHAT YOU COULD.
I REMEMBER MY MOM GAVE ME A REALLY HEAVY BAG OF RICE AND WE JUST WENT INTO THE JUNGLE.
I REMEMBER MOVING FROM ONE REFUGEE CAMP TO THE NEXT.
DREAMING BACK GOING INTO OUR HOME.
YOU ARE IN A HUT AND WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
THERE IS NO CLEAN WATER.
MY GRANDFATHER'S FRIEND WAS A PASTOR.
HE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SPONSORED MY FAMILY AND I.
WE CAME HERE THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS AND OUR SPONSOR WAS THROUGH HIS CHURCH.
THE BIGGEST SURPRISE FOR ME WHEN I IMMIGRANTED TO THE STATES EVERYONE WAS TALL, REALLY PALE.
THERE WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF FREEDOM FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WERE FREE TO LIVE AND ENJOY AND EXPRESS JOY.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING I HADN'T EXPERIENCE BEFORE.
MY COUNTRY OF BIRTH IS THAILAND.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHO I AM NOW YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE HISTORY WHY I'M HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE BRITISH COLONIZED MY COUNTRY.
THEY CALLED US CORAN.
WE HAVE A PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A COUNTRY.
WE EXIST IN THE BORDER OF BERMA AND THAILAND.
THE WORLD'S LONGEST CIVIL WAR.
I CALL COLORADO COLORFUL COLORADO.
I THINK OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES, DIFFERENT ETHNICITY, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE.
I HAVE VERY POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT COLORADO ESPECIALLY MANY THE DENVER AREA BECAUSE OF WHAT I AM ABLE TO EXPERIENCE.
COLORADO DOESN'T FEEL LIKE REAL HOME.
I WAS BORN IN THAILAND.
MY NATIONALITY IS AMERICAN.
I IDENTIFY WITH A LOT OF KIDS WHO IMGRATED HERE.
I GREW UP IN A SOCIETY OUTSIDE OF THEIR PARENTS' COUNTRY.
THEY TRY TO COMBINE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND TRADITIONS INTO THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD.
WITH THIS KIND OF MINDSET YOU DON'T FEEL ROOTED.
PEOPLE TELL ME HOME IS NOT A PLACE.
IT IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS.
FOR ME I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
I LOVE HIKING.
I LOVE BEING IN NATURE.
I LOVE SEEING OTHER PEOPLE, BEING OUTDOORS AND MY SMILING AND TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.
I THINK THAT IS ONE THING THAT MAKES COLORADO WHAT IT IS.
WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 2011 WE HAD A HUGE POPULATION.
BECAUSE OF HOW EXPENSIVE EVERYTHING BECAME THEY MOVED TO PLACES LIKE NEBRASKA, OHIO, ARKANSAS, KENTUCKY.
WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING.
I REMEMBER WORKING 80 HOURS A WEEK.
WORKING TWO JOBS MAKING ENDS MEET IN A CITY LIKE DENVER BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE.
YEAH, IT IS HARD.
I THINK THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD THING ABOUT REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS IS THAT WE COME HERE AND JUST EXTRACT ALL THE RESOURCES.
IN REALITY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SOCIETY.
WE ARE WILLING TO DO THE JOB THAT AMERICANS FIND IT TOO LOW OF A PAY.
WE ARE ALL HERE AS HUMANS TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A HUMAN BEING.
EVEN THOUGH WE COME FROM TWO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THERE IS THINGS THAT TIE US TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE HUMAN.
I THINK WHEN I WAS 11, I TRULY BELIEVED THAT THERE IS SUCH THING AS AN AMERICAN DREAM.
EVENTUALLY WHEN I LEARNED MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW THE SYSTEM AND HOW THIS COUNTRY FUNCTIONS AS A WHOLE.
I REALIZED IT IS CALLED AMERICAN DREAM FOR A REASON.
IT ONLY HAPPENS IN A DREAM.
IF I WOULD HAVE TO DESCRIBE WHAT AN AMERICAN DREAM NOW WOULD BE LIVING TO ENJOY THE THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY.
NOT WORKING FOR THE SAKE OF WORKING.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO BE GRATEFUL.
I THINK EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW ETHNIC CLEANSING AND SURVIVING AS A FAMILY WE ARE ON EDGE IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK ABOUT HAVING MORE MONEY FOR MY FAMILY OR HAVING A HOUSE.
I DON'T THINK OF THINGS.
I JUST FOCUS THAT WE ARE SAFE AT THE MOMENT.
>> MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO.
I'M A CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL.
I'M AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LOVES TO SING.
MAYBE I WILL SING Y'ALL A SONG.
I'M AN UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN IN THE EDUCATIONAL ATMOSPHERE 10 TO 12 YEARS.
I WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF A CLASSROOM FOR TEN OF THOSE YEARS.
I'M NOT DOING EDUCATION CONSULTANT SORT OF WORK.
I WAS BORN IN CHILE.
I WAS RAISED IN SAN DIEGO, COLORADO.
I WAS THERE UNTIL THE AGE OF 18.
I WENT TO SCHOOL UP IN WASHINGTON THE STATE NOT D.C. TO A PLACE CALLED WITTMAN COLLEGE IN WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON.
I'M AN ADVOCATE OF STORIES LIKE MINE.
WHENEVER I'M ABLE TO SHARE SPACE IN DIFFERENT ROOMS AND PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SEE ME, LOOK INTO MY EYES, FEEL MY SPIRIT.
I'M HOPING I HAVE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO ADVOCATE FOR ME AND FIGHT FOR ME.
I WANT PEOPLE TO SAY THIS INDIVIDUAL JUST IN EXISTING IS WHERE THE EXISTING IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE HE'S BY ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES PAID HIS DUES.
IT FEELS LIKE DID I DO ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CONTRARIAN BELIEVE THAT I'M WORTHY OF BEING IN THIS NATION?
MY MOM LEFT WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD.
SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TO PURSUE THE DREAM.
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
RIGHT?
MY AUNTS AND UNCLES ENCOURAGED MY MOM AND DAD YOU HAVE THIS DREAM WHAT YOU WANTED TO PURSUE.
GO OFF AND DO IT WE WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM.
ONCE SHE GOT HERE BECAUSE SHE -- HER TEMPORARY VISA EXPIRED SOON AFTER.
SHE ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A JOB AND LIVING ON THE STREETS AND ENDED UP GOING WITH THIS CHURCH.
THIS CHURCH HELPED HER OFF THE STREETS.
I ACTUALLY ARRIVED ON MOTHER'S DAY RIGHT WHEN I WAS TURNING FOUR.
AS A SURPRISE TO MY MOM.
THE CHURCH HAD GATHERED ALL THE FUNDS TO BRING ME ALL THE WAY FROM CHILE ALL THE WAY TO THE UNITED STATES.
THEY GOT ME SOME COWBOY BOOTS AND THIS NASA JACKET.
AND MY UNCLE CAME WITH ME.
DROPPED ME OFF WITH PASTORS IN MEXICO.
THEY ENED UP DRIVING ME TO THE CHURCH.
SHE WAS SURPRISED.
DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO BE THERE.
SHE RUNS TO ME AND I RUN TO HER.
IT WAS A VERY SWEET MOMENT.
WHAT ENDED UPBRINGING TO COLORADO WAS TEACHING.
THERE WAS THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHERE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO BE DOING NEXT.
AT THE TIME I HAD GONE TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COMPLETELY UNDOCUMENTED.
AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO DACA THAT WOULD GIVE ME A TEMPORARY WORK PERMIT.
I GOT TO THIS PLACE WHY DID I WORK SO HARD WHEN THE END GOAL IS GOING TO BE DOING WHAT MY PARENTS DID WHICH IS WORKING VERY HARD FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY.
PROBABLY ALONG THE LINES OF CONSTRUCTION OR A SERVICE JOB OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND THERE WAS THIS ONE TEACHER THAT I HAD GROWING UP THAT REALLY PUT A LOT OF HER ENERGY AND EFFORTS TOWARDS ME.
THERE WAS A PRESENTATION THAT I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT REMINDS ME OF THE TEACHER THAT MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN MY LIFE.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT IMPACT ON EVEN ONE INDIVIDUAL.
THANKS TO THE HELP OF PEOPLE GETTING ARRESTED ON THE STREETS TO ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE US, THANKS TO THE ADVOCACY THAT WAS COMING FROM NETWORKS LIKE TEACH FOR AMERICA AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THEY PUT PRESSURE ON OBAMA TO BRING DEFERRED ACTION.
THE WAY I ENDED UP TO COLORADO ONCE I GOT ACCEPTED TO THE PROGRAM WILLING TO TAKE ON TEACHERS LIKE US.
BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES TO BE AVAILABLE.
THE ONLY TWO DACA TEACHERS THAT APPLIED TO TEACH FOR AMERICA AT THE TIME ENDED UP BEING PLACED HERE.
DACA IS A WORK PERMIT THAT HAS TO BE RENEWED EVERY TWO YEARS.
IT IS A STAY.
YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR A CERTAIN PERMIT OF TIME.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.
BE PURSUING CAREER OR COLLEGE.
EVERY TWO YEARS YOU HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER 500 OR SO DOLLARS IN ORDER TO RENEW THE WORK PERMIT.
YOU ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH -- YOU ACTUALLY END UP GETTING A TEMPORARY SOCIAL SECURITY WHICH IS THE BIGGEST REASON WHY UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS AREN'T ABLE TO WORK.
I CALL IT A PRIVILEGE OR A TEMPORARY THING.
AS YOU KNOW, TRUMP AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS TRY TO GET RID OF IT VARIOUS TIMES.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE IT IS NOT WRITTEN INTO LAW WE DON'T HAVE A NEW GENERATION OF DOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS.
I'VE BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY INVESTED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING.
I COUNTED, I HAVE SEEN OVER 1200 STUDENTS AND IMPACTED THEM IN THE MOST POSITIVE WAY THAT I CAN.
THOSE ARE ALL AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
AS SOON AS I DECIDED THAT I HAD SORT OF BEEN BURNT CRISPY BY THE EDUCATIONAL SPHERE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT ROSE UP WITHIN ME IN TERMS OF THIS FEAR WAS WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WOULD STILL CONSIDER ME AS VALUABLE AS HUMAN IF I CHOSE TO NOT OVER EXCEED.
IT MAKES ME NERVOUS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE INDIVIDUAL DON'T NECESSARY AGREE WITH ME BEING HERE.
WHETHER SORT OF LIKE SUPPORTS THEIR CLAIMS OF LIKE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?
THE SHORT ANSWER IS I DON'T FEEL STABLE.
I'M HAVING TO RENEW AND PLEAD MY CASE EVERY TWO YEARS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD BE HERE AND IF I HAVE NOT BEEN AN OUTSTANDING CITIZENS PEOPLE WITHIN THE UCIS HAVE THE ABILITY TO JUST SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO RENEW YOUR WORK PERMIT.
SUPER HUMANITY IS THE BURDEN THAT A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS AND CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS PLACE UPON THEMSELVES.
IT IS THIS IDEA THAT YOUR ACTIONS AND EVERY STEP THAT YOU TAKE IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING THAT IS FOR THE SAKE OF YOURSELF BUT IT IS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF US YOU ARE NOT JUST YOU.
YOU REPRESENTATION OF ANYONE THAT SHARES YOUR STORY OR REMOTELY LOOKS LIKE YOU.
JUST EXISTING IS NOT ENOUGH THAT YOU HAVE TO GO FOR MORE THAN SURVIVAL.
YOU HAVE TO REACH THE AMERICAN DREAM, IF YOU ARE NOT DOING THAT, THEN YOU ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
AND SO YOU ARE LITERALLY CHARGING YOURSELF TO BE A SUPER HUMAN.
TO BE MORE THAN ANY HUMAN IS REALLY CAPABLE OF.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS TO SING ON THE SPOT BECAUSE IT IS -- IT GETS THE STRUGGLE AND BRINGS A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE.
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