My earliest memory of the United States was actually from TV shows. I used to love watching the Disney channel when I was growing up. I thought that America was such a great place because it was built by immigrants, and so anyone from anywhere could come to America and make a living and achieve their wildest dreams.

In high school, it definitely started hitting me really hard that I wasn’t like everyone else. I left like I didn’t fit in. I didn’t have the same opportunities that my friends had, like getting my drivers license. When I found out that I couldn’t get my license, it crushed me.

Even though I was struggling with how I fit in or if I fit in, I still loved being in America. I love pizza, I love burgers. I felt just as American as any other person. It’s just that on paper it’s a different story. I can’t just go to an office and apply for citizenship. I wish it was that easy.

Getting DACA opened up my eyes. In just 2 years I completely changed my life. I feel like I belong now. But my DACA expires in August 2019, and so until then I’m just going to push as hard as I can and do as much as I can in that time.

Losing DACA would be a great loss to so many communities across America. For my family, it would be devastating. Right now I’m working, paying the bills, keeping the lights on. I’m buying groceries, making sure everyone gets fed, that my family has a place to live. Without the ability to do that, how are we going to survive? That’s one of the hardest things to think about.