“Leaving my home behind at 8 years old, my family decided to move to the US after the Egyptian Revolution. Although I was certainly scared, I heard so many incredible things about the US. I was excited to have clean and safe public parks, running water, and electricity. As a young child, it seemed likeContinue reading ““It is soul-crushing to be treated as if I have never stepped foot in the US””
Author Archives: Hidden Dreamer
“That’s what my life is. In my heart, I’m an Indian American woman who has big dreams, but my visa status prohibits me from embracing and realizing my true potential”- Srishti D.
I moved to the United States when I was 10 years old with my mom and my brother, finally reuniting with my dad. They made this choice to present my younger brother and I with an opportunity for a better and larger future. Every day, my parents, my extended family in India, friends, and everyoneContinue reading ““That’s what my life is. In my heart, I’m an Indian American woman who has big dreams, but my visa status prohibits me from embracing and realizing my true potential”- Srishti D.”
“This was just the beginning of my eyes opening to injustices that thrived on immigrants’ hard work all around me.”- Vidushi S.
The American Dream is defined as “the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved”. It was something I strived for, before I understood the concept. My family moving to the US was a big deal, as the States are glorified and romanticizedContinue reading ““This was just the beginning of my eyes opening to injustices that thrived on immigrants’ hard work all around me.”- Vidushi S.”
“She was Different.” – Damita T.
Different. who knew one word could radiate so much negativity like being split between two worlds, never good enough for either alienated by her food, her clothing, her language they didn’t even let her be ‘normal’; they barely respected her “status, status, status.”— the word mocked her everytime she heard it she would never beContinue reading ““She was Different.” – Damita T.”
“Life at times can feel suffocating especially moments you never see coming. In the end, I learned a valuable lesson: my immigration status does not determine my worth, character, or humaneness.”- Aarushi S.
‘Moving’ is not a foreign term to me, it’s a part of me. Whether it be moving from Europe to India or venturing to America for higher studies, starting my life over was something I had to brace myself to do every time. Having the opportunity to spend my years in different countries was rewarding,Continue reading ““Life at times can feel suffocating especially moments you never see coming. In the end, I learned a valuable lesson: my immigration status does not determine my worth, character, or humaneness.”- Aarushi S.”
“Although I’m just sixteen, I have big dreams and a life of my own. If I don’t get a green card by the time I am 21, I don’t know if I will ever be able to achieve those dreams.”- Jyotsna
Green card Many don’t know what the word above means. But to me and thousands of kids like me, a green card means freedom, peace, and equal opportunity. I came to the United States when I was just two years old and lived here for practically my entire life. Yet, I need the green cardContinue reading ““Although I’m just sixteen, I have big dreams and a life of my own. If I don’t get a green card by the time I am 21, I don’t know if I will ever be able to achieve those dreams.”- Jyotsna”
“It’s as if I’m temporarily an outsider to my dreams- spending endless amounts of energy to persistently run towards a magical future that I can’t get a hold of.”- Pranitha K.
I was only 4 years old, but the memory remains crystal clear. I sat in the backseat of my Dad’s 1999 Honda Civic as my eyes glistened from the skyscraping buildings. The familiarity of hectic and vibrant landscapes faded into a calm, snow-covered city. I was filled with optimistic curiosity —little did I know aboutContinue reading ““It’s as if I’m temporarily an outsider to my dreams- spending endless amounts of energy to persistently run towards a magical future that I can’t get a hold of.”- Pranitha K.”
“I will accomplish my dreams regardless of my visa status. I just want to be seen as who I am: a girl with dreams.”- Prarthana
As a kid I never really worried about my visa. To be honest, I didn’t even know what it was. When my parents first told me “we are going to America with dad,” I was just excited to not go to school in India and get traumatized even more. Trust me, Indian schools are horrible.Continue reading ““I will accomplish my dreams regardless of my visa status. I just want to be seen as who I am: a girl with dreams.”- Prarthana”
“My immigrant story bridges my identities and simultaneously traps my dreams, but has given me the experiences of a lifetime.”- Rishika C.
”Preschool in Scotland? Wow, how cool!” Yea, very cool, but only if it’s an experience – not a limitation. Sometimes it feels like my life is a real-world juxtaposition, one where I spent the first 3 years of existence traveling the world, only to spend the rest of it in one place. Birth in India,Continue reading ““My immigrant story bridges my identities and simultaneously traps my dreams, but has given me the experiences of a lifetime.”- Rishika C.”
“On days when I feel like just giving up, I remind myself that I am only 18, and that I have the rest of my life ahead of me. I’m too young to lose hope”- Lakshmi P.
Most people look forward to turning 21 but that is something that visa holders like me dread. Turning 21 means that I will age out of the system and have to fight to stay in this country, a country that I have lived in for the majority of my life. I have known about myContinue reading ““On days when I feel like just giving up, I remind myself that I am only 18, and that I have the rest of my life ahead of me. I’m too young to lose hope”- Lakshmi P.”
The Hidden Dream 