Lizbeth Mateo
I came to this country when I had just turned fourteen. I carried with me few things: the memories of friends and loved ones left behind and a few personal dreams and ambitions. I relied on one phrase: “Sorry, I don’t speak English.” After weeks of crying myself to sleep, I found myself surrounded by new friends and teachers who welcomed me and believed in my abilities. After four years of hard work, I became the first person in my family to graduate from high school, yet it was a bittersweet accomplishment. After high school graduation, I had to choose between pursuing college in Mexico and fighting for a future in the United States. I’m American. I stayed to fight.
I paid my way through college without any financial aid, working at a sunglass store on the beach as my friends enjoyed their vacations.
Years later, I am the first in my family to graduate from college. I dream of being a lawyer one day, and defending the causes of liberty and justice in this country before the Supreme Court. All of this, and more, is possible if we can pass the DREAM Act together. Join us.
- Graduate of California State University of Northridge, B.A. in Chican@ Studies
- Founding member of Dreams To Be Heard, a support and advocacy group at California State University of Northridge
- Co-‐founder of Dream Team Los Angeles, a youth-‐led organization of students, educators, and community members seeking to empower immigrant youth
- Testified at the California state capitol on the barriers faced by undocumented youth
- Testified in Congress on the urgent need for the DREAM Act
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Facebook: Lizbeth Mateo
Twitter: @lizbethmateo
Country of Origin: Mexico
Current City: Los Angeles
Age: 25
el valor de defender la justicia social es el don que dios pone en cada ser que cumple con el mandato principal ama a tu hermano como a ti mismo veo que los jovenes hispanos estan haciendo unaa gran historia que realza la herencia que como cultura vamos dejando en este pais que nos da el pan de cada dia,oramos por que las consecuencias de estas valerosas deciciones sean protegidas por quienes de alguna manera nos representan nuestros senadores acabo de regresar de la escuela elementaria de mi hija quien con solo 8 anos es acompanada en sus suenos de estudiantes con muchos ninos migrantes de deferentes paises documentados o no ellos todos disfrutan de ese field trip de fin de ano sin imaginar qcomo sus padres sufren el ganar el pan de cada dia el amor entre ellos no tiene diferencias y se siente paz y libertad gracias por su valor por que el futuro de estos ninos se esta daando gracias al sacrificio de ustedes senores senadores solo queremos un futuro para nuestros hijos no somos criinales y amamos la paz y el bien comun escuchen el grito de dolor de la actual juventud hispana
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I, like you, was brought into the US at three years of age. Since then I have worked hard to better my future, and to one day make my DREAM come true, i want to go to college. We are not criminals. All the students that are fighting, TOGETHER, for the DREAM ACT, want it to be passed. We want to be able to go to college, and better our communities. Thank You for keeping our DREAM alive.
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I never thought i would actually participate in any of these blogs or websites. I am an AB540 student as well and i see the sacrifice that we as human beings do in order to reach our dreams and show the people beind us that WE as IMMIGRANTS still can achieve a higher standard of education. I am attending College at this point, a community college. Like many of us do, i am planning on saving money to transfer and pay for my tuition and expenses in another 4yr University. Is unfair the treatmeant given toward us. FOr over centuries this country has been redefining who is an “American.” America is NOT a country, is a CONTINENT therefore ALL OF US are AMERICANS. I understand the anger of many citizens toward us but it takes more than words to actually understand the suffer, pain, agony, stress, depression, and so much more that AB 540 students have to undergo while living in what they call home and not being accepted. Why can’t this country realize that we have already pass through this? Going back to African Americans, Asians, Irish and many other ethnic groups, they had already pass and worked their way out of discrimination and racism, yet it is still a significant issue in the U.S. I hope for the DREAM Act to pass in order for not just me but many other out there like me that want to actually become someone bright in the future and give back to our communities. Please do not be mad at us. Is not our fault nor was our desicion to cross a border. Our home countries denied our parents a good education, health, and many more things which was the reason for many families to cross a line and risking their blood. Now we are unfairly labeled criminals, aliens, illegals, terrorists, etc… The DREAM Act is a door for undocumentes students to show their contribution to better the U.S, our home.
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You are exactly the kind of person this country needs. Do not give up! I am just an old man living in West Virginia, but I know social injustice when I see it.
Agitate, Agitate & Agitate some more.
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Hi, I like your blog. This is a good site and I wanted to post a note to let you know, nice job! Thanks kim
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It makes me so happy to see how determined you are and I wanna say that you are an inspiration to me. Sometimes I get really scared of thhe future but I am so glad to see that I am not alone. THANK YOU.
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