Dear Society,
In 2018 1,486 deaths have been recorded on the US - Mexican border but since 1994 it has been 10,000 deaths. Every one of those 10,000 died crossing the border looking for a better life in America they all were siblings, son, and daughter, etc they came to America for a better life, and unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for people to die while crossing and they know that but they still take the risk of coming to America. Dehydration, heat stroke, drowning, and a lot of them aren’t healthy and just can’t keep going. Everyone has a different reaction when they hear about immigrants crossing the border and dying, some feel sad for them and others don't care and ask why they come to the United States. Some know that if they stay in Mexico they will either die of old age or get murdered. Mexico is very poor and a lot of them do sneaky jobs for easy money because they are so desperate for a small amount of money.
When I hear stories about this I can’t help but be saddened by it because deep down I know my parents and older sister could’ve died while crossing the border. My mom being pregnant with me and young with my dad being young and not knowing what could happen and them having another daughter in Mexico they took the risk.
I come from a background that at times isn't talked about positively. My community is stereotyped by others as “lazy immigrants”, or “people who steal jobs.” Although we have been badly spoken about by other Americans, that has not changed my views on the American Dream and working hard.
My parents have been together for 25 years, both born and raised in Acapulco, Guerrero, and immigrated to Oregon in 2002 with four children, my two sisters, and my brother. In the last 17 years, they have shown me what it is like to work hard and achieve your dreams. My family isn’t from a normal background; they have accomplished dreams that nobody believed that they could accomplish. My parents have owned their own company for 5 years, bought a house and multiple other homes to remodel, and have helped my older sister with her schooling. But when I was younger, I didn’t truly realize all they did for me and wanted to be someone else.
I wasn’t always proud of coming from immigrant parents or even being Mexican. Especially growing up where others had blonde hair or blue eyes, they didn’t speak Spanish would even mock my race and culture. In elementary and middle school I always wanted to be someone I wasn’t. I tried acting like my white peers. I tried changing my views to please others, I didn't speak Spanish at school, because I felt like an outcast and that went on for a long time. Kids can be very cruel at times, they don’t understand what is going on but all the teasing truly did help me understand that even though I was different, different wasn’t wrong.
My parent’s journey is seen as “immature” or others say they “should’ve stayed in their own country” but to me, all they have done for me has taught me to try as hard as I can and that anything is possible if I set my mind on my dreams. I am proud to be who I am and I wouldn't have it any other way.
-Anonymous
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