Undocumented students shared their stories of immigration and courage at the annual Dream Club Dinner, attended by hundreds of community members on Friday, Nov. 17.
Sequoia’s Dream Club works to support and provide scholarships for undocumented students. It is also a large part of the conversation about Dreamers at Sequoia. The experiences of many undocumented students can go unheard due to fear of deportation and judgment.
“It’s hard to know who to trust,” senior Kimberly said. The Raven Report agreed to not disclose last names to protect Dreamers’ privacy.
Kimberly hopes to support her undocumented family and other Dreamers by working with the club to provide resources. The club, run by English Language Development (ELD) teacher Jane Slater, also provides a sense of community. Multiple members said it is welcoming, supportive and friendly.
“They’re people I can turn to when I need support,” Kimberly said.
At the dinner, after remarks from Redwood City Vice Mayor Lissette Espinoza-Garnica, Sequoia Union High School District superintendent Crystal Leach, Sequoia Principal Sean Priest, and a poem performed by the entire club, students began to tell their stories. One such student was Yeimi.
“Even though I knew that my dad abused my mom, he was always good to me. I loved him and didn’t want to leave him,” Yeimi said.
Yeimi left her hometown in Mexico at age eight. There she faced violence from cartels, and once saw a row of severed heads on the street. Her mom knew it was time to leave, but was only able to take one child with her–Yeimi. Yeimi never got a chance to say goodbye to her friends and family and spent four days in a detention center upon finally arriving in the US.
“Everybody was on the floor and there was nowhere to move to or go. That was really hard, especially for us kids,” she said.
Yeimi and her mom spent a few years moving around before settling in Redwood City, where Yeimi still struggled with learning English and keeping up with classes. She has not seen her family for nine years and is still waiting for an asylum court date. However, she tries to be positive and grateful for what she has. She worries about her family back home but focuses on honoring them through her hard work.
“Most of all I want to make my mom proud and show her that her sacrifices were worth it. The dreams that I’m following are not only mine but they are hers as well.” Yeimi said.
The crowd responded with tears, applause, and a standing ovation. The Dream Club onstage took a few moments to collect themselves.
Finally, two club alumni, who have now graduated college, shared their experiences. Raquel is a Salvadorian first-generation undocumented alumna who graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an education that Dream Club scholarships helped pay for.
“[The club] not only offered financial assistance but became instrumental in accomplishing my dreams,” Raquel said.
Even with the club’s support, Dreamers continue to face challenges. In addition to the difficulties of being a junior in high school, undocumented student Maria takes care of her two young brothers so her mother can work more than four jobs. Living with undocumented parents means living in constant fear of deportation, as well as job insecurity.
“It’s hard watching your parents work hard and not getting the same benefits as everyone else,” Kimberly said.
For those wishing to support the club, checks can be made out to Sequoia High School with “Sequoia Dream Club” in the memo. Meanwhile, Sequoia’s Dreamers continue to grapple with the struggles of immigration and look forward to their futures.
“None of us had control of how our stories began, but we sure do have control of the ending, so I say make the best out of it,” Yeimi said.