"Love does not expose faults; it covers them." --Joyce Meyer

So, today was my last day to observe my mentor teacher for the semester. I have to say that when I began I was eager to be finished with my thirty hour requirement. But, today as I left I felt sad. I formed a genuine bond with those kids.

 

The high school I was observing at is an urban school with a high percentage of minority children. I was nervous going in because I grew up in a town with reletively few black kids, hispanic kids or any other ethnicity for that matter. So, naturally it was a little strange for me at first. I walked into that school twice a week for 2 months. Everytime I walked in I felt more and more secure, comfortable and willing to enjoy, learn and mingle with the kids there.

 

I formed relationships with more than a handful of the kids there. These kids we not the kind of kids I was used to being around. They come from low income families, mostly immigrant, illegal immigrant. I have been largely ignorant of the plight of immigrant children for the length of my life. Until yesterday. I was having an intimate conversation with a young lady who is from Guatemala. She is a very intelligent, willing and motivated person. She is obvisouly fluent in English and Spanish and is in the process of learning French.

 

Sadly, my friend is an undocumented immigrant who came here when she was very young. Her parents brought her here to make a better life for her and their family. She told me that if they had anything back home, they would have never come here.

 

I had planned on serving my time at that high school encouraging the students to work hard and to fight for their rights to go to college. Little did I know that they were literally fighting for their rights. These children will soon be the majority of the ethnicities in this country. They are being denied basic rights!!! Doesn't that disgust you?

 

As little as a week ago I had no idea of their story. A story that is sadly repeated in all of the United States. Children of migrant parents who are not legally in this country and have little to no chance of becoming citizens because of the laws. If the laws could change, if the laws could adapt to the future, these people, this entire race of people would no longer be considered a burdon on the system. They could be legitimate citizens who contribute to Social Security, pay into the state income tax system and help change our economy for the better. They are already here, and still coming. The only difference is their contributions to our society often go unnoticed and unappreciated.

 

Children in this situation are being denied the promise of a new and better life than their parents have had. The children who are good students, good people and who can be proven to be legititmate and contributive citizens should be allowed citizenship, and education and a chance at the true American dream, a college education!!!

 

On my last day the kids suprised me with a cake and a home made card signed by all the students present that day. They teared up, they smiled and told me they would miss me. Some even told me their grades had actually risen while I was there. They gave me gifts, well, one girl did. And, she told me that everytime I look at it to think of her. I told her that heaven would never allow me to forget her. <<TEAR>> I may hve made an impact on the lives of a few students there. I hope so anyway. But, more importantly is what I learned from them.

 

I spent a total of 30 hours with these children. That does not sound like much, but it was enough for me to learn about their lives. It was enough time for them impact my heart and soul. It was just enough for them to change my life. The boys and girls who are good kids, who fight each and every day for basic things like a normal life. Things I grew expecting from my parents.

 

I hope that those who read this can gain a batter understanding of what it is like for those children. It is not enough that their parents work long hours, and can still barely afford to get by. But, they don't know about their options because no one(well, at least not many) has taken the time to try and educate them

 

I believe in civil rights for all people, no matter who they are. I am not condoning certain types of behavior here. But, let's be clear... in the early part of the 1900's black people and women were fighting for their rights as people and citizens. Now, homosexual and hispanic are fighting for their rights. I think that those who were ingnorant to the plight of African-American's and women back in the day are the same type of people who are ignorant of the plight of the Hispanic and gay communities today!!!

 

Agreeing with their lifestyles is one thing, but denying them basic rights is another. No one deserves to be denied the American dream, not any part of it.

 

If you are with me on this then follow any of these links... http://www.dreamact.info/ ; http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/DREAM/Econ_Bens_DREAM&Stdnt_Adjst_0205.pdf; http://dreamactivist.org/take-action-2/meet-with-your-senator-or-representative/

 

If you are against me, please don't even comment. My eyes have been opened, my course made a little clearer.

 

I made a promise to that girl, a promise that I would not stop fighting for her to be able to achieve her dream of being an architect.