Country of origin: The Dominican Republic
High School: Classical HS
Attending: Rhode Island College
Major: Business Management

“The opportunities I have received as a DACA student has encouraged me to work harder. All the time and effort I have put into my classes is because of the opportunity I have been given to work and attend school. It is very gratifying to know that once I graduate college I will be able to work legally … I always spoke in high school of wanting to get a degree in management and then running my own business. This dream is not as far as it used to be. I am now just one year away from graduating college.

Additionally, I have gained the strength to push stronger towards my goals because of the sacrifices my family has done, and are still doing, to get my sister and me through college. My father has worked like never before to be able to both supply for our tuition cost and for the family expenses.”

Country of origin: México
High School: Pilgrim High School
Attending: University of Rhode Island
Major: Industrial Engineering

“To thank my loving mother for all she’s done for me, I take advantage of every opportunity that expands my knowledge and increases my chances being more educated than I was yesterday. I took on the responsibility of getting involved in rigorous courses and volunteering events, accompanied by an internship at a local engineering facility, and several summer jobs to help her with house bills.

I had the privilege of being granted my DACA status, which has allowed me to grow as an individual in my community. My mom is not the only reason for my motivation towards a greater education; my ambition for my own future will help accomplish my dreams as well.

With self-determination, support, and hard work, my dream of becoming an Industrial Engineer will be achieved. It is incredible to believe that without the roads that my parents have chosen to take throughout their lives, my life would be completely distinct.”

Country of origin: Liberia
High School: Pilgrim High School
Attending: Rhode Island College
Major: Civil Engineering. He has been recruited to be on the track team

“I came to America in 2012 because Boko Haram started to target the soldiers and their families specifically. My father couldn't come to America with us because he continues to serve in the Nigerian military to protect the citizens.

My family and I have been here for four years, and being worlds away from my father, my family and I pray that he stays alive and the Boko Haram does not harm my family. When he can, my father calls to make sure we are living well, when we should be worrying about him.

My mom works at a nursing home and recently got hired full time. I am the oldest of three children and I hope to be a role model to my siblings.
We all currently live with my aunt in [a nice] home, better then Nigeria.

This scholarship will make a completely huge difference for me and my family. Thank you …”

Country of origin: Colombia
High School: Central Falls High School
Preferred School: Providence College
Field of Study: Health Science

“My parents always tell me, ‘Your only job is to earn your education and grow as a person.’ These wise words inspire me every single day to reach all my goals. Everything I set to do, I accomplish. As far as my career pursuits, I aspire a career in health science. Health science can be divided into two main topics: biology and how the environment people inhabit affects their health. Biology is simply the study of life and everything around us depends on it. I am fascinated by how the complexity of life started with a single-celled organism affecting the composition of the body. Yet people’s health can also be affected by external factors such as overworking the body, chemical exposure, and lifestyle choices. My dream is to combine my two passions in order to help others achieve a better quality of life.

It does not matter where you come from or what race you are as long as you dream big and take active steps toward success. Life has been nothing but tough, but I overcame all of it by working hard every single second given to me.

‘The brick walls are there for a reason. [They] are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.’

This is the motto that I live by every single day. We are what we work for and how bad we want to be successful truly depends on our will.”

Country of origin: Dominican Republic
High School: Mt. Pleasant High School
Attending: Rhode Island College
Field of Study: Pediatric Medicine

“I believe if you sacrifice to get something with effort you will get to where you put my mind to. My goal has always been to become a pediatrician, and I wanted to prove to others that anything is possible. If you put effort. With determination, you can achieve anything in life. Hard work always pays off.

I also want to be able to attend college and begin my major in medicine. I want to advocate for other undocumented students or people that want to begin school. I want them not to worry about their citizenship status, that it’s never impossible to obtain an education. I believe that you need take risks to be able to obtain an incredible outcome in life.”

Country of origin: Brasil
Degree: Adult Education - GED
Attending: Community College of RI
Field of Study: Social Work

“I want to go to college for personal fulfillment, to get a better life for me and for my family.

Since I was a little girl my mother told me to study hard so that I could became either a lawyer, a doctor or business women. She told me that if I study hard enough, I would not have to be a house wife. To my mom it was the worst thing that could happen to me. She never thought our life could change so drastically [until we moved to the U.S.]

My dream was always to go to college. So, I grew up envisioning myself working at an office … just like I always watched my mother work in an office. My father was a lawyer and my mother his assistant, and I was always at their law office.

Since then, my dream has not died. I have always kept this hope in my heart that one day an immigration law would pass and then I could go to college.”

Country of origin: Guatemala
High School: The MET High School
Attending: University of Rhode Island

“Attending college means so much to me especially since I will be the first one in my family to attend. No one in my family has made it as far as I have in school. Ever since I can remember my education has been important to family. My parents always told me to do well in school and be successful. Without education I won't achieve a good job and I'll be working in factories like they do. I want to work hard to give my parents a life they deserve so they don't have to work such long hours. It will be my turn to take care of them instead of them taking care of me.

Graduating from high school is going to be such a big step for my parents and me. These four years I have worked so hard to make them proud. Since I wasn't born in the United States and I am not eligible for financial aid, I have had to work long hours and extra hard to help to afford college tuition. That won't stop me from not attending college.

Ever since freshman year my dream has been to study fashion. Fashion has been my biggest passion these past four years and although people tell me it's going be hard, I know that if l set my mind to it, there is nothing that can stop me. I know that I will be able to accomplish my dream. If I could give some advice to someone who might be in the same situation, I would say, ‘Never give up on yourself even if things get hard in life. With hard work everything will eventually pay off.’”

Country of origin: Perú
High School: Cranston High School East
Attending: Rhode Island College
Field of Study: History and Pre-Law

“So here I am, now 26, employed, educated, Americanized but undocumented.

I am making the decision to finish my B.A in History at Rhode Island College and continue on to Law school. I did go through the struggles of learning the language, communicating, making money but I did so and graduated elementary, middle and high school at the top of my class. I took some time off to repay my parents by helping out with our mortgage and house bills.

Today, I am finally ready to finish what my parents and I came to this country for, opportunity. I am taking a page out of my father’s playbook and adapting to my situation, I understand my journey has been hard but I know I will make it. So I will keep pedicabbing people throughout the streets of Newport in a tricycle or write 1000 essays if that will help me financially. However I do it, I will adapt and continue on.”

Country of origin: Honduras
High School: Woonsocket High School
Attending: Rhode Island College
Field of Study: Art

“After arriving in the United States, learning the language was probably one of the toughest tasks for the first few months. It was hard work but I made it through.

My high school experience has contributed to my personal growth by teaching me important aspects about life and helping me mature from the person I was as a freshman. My immature decisions challenged me to do better. I had to prove my commitment to my education in order to achieve good grades. I also had to realize that the decisions I make now will have a great effect on the future … and that I can learn from my mistakes.

Friends are also a great thing to have during high school because if they are the right ones they will help you overcome hard times and be there for you. I made many good friends. I also formed many good relationships with teachers who made my experience here easier. I have definitely matured since ninth grade.

I believe that my experience in school and many other parts of my life, such as friends and family, are what helped shape me to follow my passion for art even when the road was hard.

I know this effort will lead to great opportunities and this is why I believe I will succeed in college.”