I once read in a book called, Invisible Acts of Power, by Caroline Myss, “As we age, we are also meant to grow in responsibility, in compassion toward others and in wisdom, understanding and consciousness.” Every time I think of that fundraiser a few months ago organized by students in the city of Lynwood where I met Julio along with several other students from “the Beach”, I’m touched and feel a sense of responsibility, compassion and consciousness of immigration issues in our community. I was introduced to Julio and other students by Dr. Macias. They asked questions about me and my background, profession and community involvement. The group was vibrant, fun and proud Cal State Long Beach students! I gave them my card and a few days later I received a call from Julio.
Julio and I arranged to meet for dinner after work at a local restaurant. I arrived at the same time he did. We walked into the restaurant and we were both seated right away. We ordered our food and the conversation just flowed. I asked if he wanted a glass of wine before dinner, he didn’t accept it and explained that despite his legal drinking age, most restaurants and bars did not accept his Mexican identification as valid proof. This was the beginning of a long conversation about the challenges he and others in his situation experience on a daily basis. The identification issue is just one example on how these students are marginalized.
As the conversation evolved, I sensed a level of trust we immediately developed. I asked Julio to talk to me about himself, his college experience and goals. It was incredible to hear him speak about the students that have been working to organize a student club on campus and raise money for AB 540 student-scholarships. Julio shared his life story and within a few minutes I was transcended to the night I met him in Lynwood, his life was not different than those that gave testimonials that night at the Espíritu de Nuestro Futuro event.
Regardless of anyone’s position on immigration reform, it is difficult to not have compassion and want to help; such responsible, hard working role models for our youth. Julio is from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico and he remembers crossing the border with a passport at a young age with his family trying to find adequate health care for his sick sister. His sister’s health was serious and their stay in California was longer than they expected. Before his parents knew it, school had begun and they would not allow their son to miss his education. Julio expressed to me that his parents are strong believers in education and that a degree is the only way to improve the social economic condition of anyone, including their family. Julio became fluent in English fast and found himself getting good grades through middle school and high school. He volunteered and participated in many student clubs and organizations. Through his involvement he found out he was not alone, he found many other student leaders in the same situation as him, undocumented with the dream of a college degree and becoming a civic responsible member of his community.
Julio’s goal is to be a journalist and writer for a newspaper. First, he thought, like many others, that it would be impossible to continue his education after high school; however, he soon discovered that he qualified under Marco Firebaugh’s Assembly Bill 540. Currently, he is a journalist student Cal State Long Beach, has an internship in a local community newspaper and is an active member of a support group on campus.
The biggest struggle for him is the cost of education and lack of financial aid. As an undocumented student, he is not eligible for financial aid; therefore, he works over 40 hours per week to pay for tuition, textbooks, public transportation and help his family. Despite the economic hardship, academic success, responsibilities to his family’s household, Julio smiles as he tells me, “It’s like hustling to get an education, I have to do what I have to do.” His job is at a fast food restaurant earning minimum wage and working as many hours he possibly can. Julio looks at me with eyes filled with hope and optimism that he will someday be a journalist or publisher of his own newspaper.
The night I met Julio, I asked Dr. Macias an approximate number of students at Cal State Long Beach in this situation, she informed me that there are approximately 200 students in this situation and financial aid cannot be provided. This situation is not unique to Long Beach, this situation exists in every post-secondary education campus in California and fundraisers are organized throughout the state at various universities by the students themselves. Testimonials included stories of selling tamales during the holidays, champurrado and buñuelos. Some student groups are hosting dinners in local community businesses that support education for AB 540 students.
At Cal State Long Beach, Julio explained they are in the organizing stages and can’t wait to have bigger fundraisers to give more scholarships. The academic year 2006-07 marks the completion of his first year and he continues to be active on campus; specifically to help formalize the existence of a support group. The hope of this group is that a formal student organization will help them raise money for scholarships. He shared with me that the group of students call themselves “FUEL” (Future Underrepresented Educated Leaders). FUEL is a support group for students that are either “AB 540” raising money for financial aid or supporters of AB 540 students wanting to help.
At dinner, Julio and I had been laughing and talking for three straight hours and at some point I had tears in my eyes. Maybe my commitment to this cause is too personal since my brother in law was undocumented as a college student and took jobs that I know most of us would rather not do. He worked from the break of dawn at a bakery, picked avocados in Valley Center, CA, paved and painted parking lots and took other office jobs that members of the Rotary Club or Kiwanis could give him in return for tuition, textbooks and school supplies; he held 3 or more jobs at one time and was able to be 1 of 7 students who graduated the University in 4 years. His only form of transportation was public and his bike. Three years ago he became a US citizen and he is now a share holder for of one of the largest mushroom farms in Southern California, owns a four bedroom, two story house in San Diego’s suburbia and makes a significant contribution back to the state of California in taxes.
I know it in my heart that Julio, like many other students in our community want a chance to be educated, responsible citizens of our state. He has GANAS to be someone that gives back to the community. Julio deserves an opportunity and we as a society, like Caroline Myss said, we should grow in responsibility, in compassion towards others and in wisdom, understand and have a sense of consciousness.” If you are interested in learning more about how you can help this group of students, email me.
More information about AB 540 please visit the links below found on the MALDEFF website.