Eli Bryant

Advice? do not be afraid. I was even afraid to sign up for The Dream.US for fear of refusal, but here I am. My education is the only thing that keeps me going every day. I didn’t choose this life. I didn’t choose not to be documented. But I, my family, immigrants, we are still humans. I want to show everyone that I need to support my loved ones and be proud of my success.

My parents are the two most hard-working people I know of. They made many sacrifices for me and my brothers and raised us all while doing low-paying jobs. Whatever takes care of us so that we can lead a better life-at any cost. I came to this country from Colombia when I was 2 years old and have lived here undocumented with my parents ever since. In Colombia, my parents were educated people. My mother had a college degree and she had a good job there, but it didn’t matter when we moved here. That’s why The Dream.US Scholarship is so important to me. It helps my parents and I achieve the life I have long dreamed of. I want to get a degree in civil engineering to help my family and ensure that the whole family is supported.

We are always in an uncertain situation because my parents also do not have a dissertation. Thankfully, when I moved to the United States, the adjustments went pretty smoothly. It was hard to learn English, but I soon got the hang of it. My family and I are dealing with humiliation and discrimination from people who think we are inferior to humans because we are from another country. Our house was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and we had to move-again I had to start over. Life here in America was lonely and not an exaggeration to say the least.

When I tried to apply for a college scholarship, I finally found out that it wasn’t documented in high school. After my parents gave me my identity, I finally realized that I wasn’t eligible for help. Applying to college is already stressful, but knowing that I’m not documented is even more stressful. Fortunately, we also had the support of a friend who reviewed the application for The Crossroad Scholarship.

The Crossroad Scholarship I want to find a good job and eventually be educated so that my parents can buy a house and thank them all. I already have an associate degree, but now I want to experience college like a normal student. I am glad that I made unforgettable memories and decided not to give up.