Getting a degree becomes much harder when your undocumented

Summer school starts tomorrow.

In the United States it is illegal for universities to allow undocumented students to pay instate tuition. Students without legal proof are forced to pay international fees that are 10 to 15 times the amount a regular resident would pay, making it impossible to afford an American education.

However, more than 6 states have passed laws that have overturned this rule giving anyone who wishes to study in a University the right to do so paying a fair price.

California has luckily been one of these states that have opened the doors to my educational development. I am currently at a junior college paying instate tuition but without the ability to receive financial aid.

Financial aid is critical when transferring to a University because the differences in tuition rates are immense.

I am currently paying about $1,600 per year at my junior college where as when I transfer to San Diego State University, I will be paying almost three to four times as much. Without financial aid, it will be virtually impossible for me to afford my University considering I pay rent and all the utilities associated with living independently. So in the end, it seems as though I’ll only be able to take 1 class per quarter or semester at the University level and graduate in 10 years!

It disturbs me to think of the discrimination that is going on towards undocumented children in the K-12 education system. A child is not required to be legal when attending K-12, rather it is said that if any child resides in the U.S. regardless of legal status, he/she must attend school.

Once an individual seeks to attain further education, they are denied entrance unless there is proof of legal presence.

The U.S. creates a society of students which are encouraged to achieve academic excellence in high school but are then denied to study further at a University.

Statistics say that about 65,000 students graduate each year from U.S. high schools but are denied entrance to a University because they are living illegally.

What option do these kids have?

Drop out of school and get a meaningless job that overlooks a SSN?

The United States creates a population of children with dreams to become someone in this society only to have them shattered upon graduation.

I’ve read so many articles and stories of students who have excelled in their high school studies. Class valedictorians that have lived without documents, graduate, and are denied scholarships and offers to Ivey-league schools solely because they are undocumented.

And so my journey continues tomorrow at 7:55 a.m. where I will be studying Political Science; the American political system; ironically the same system that has delayed my future.

I can only try and remain optimistic.

-Ben