Some students do get left behind
By: Kathryn Appelhans, Managing Editor
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Arts and Leisure
"I have no social security number, no driver's license, and no passport."
Imagine that your parents moved your family to America when you were young. You have no memories of "home." Every birthday party, every winter break from school, every picture in your bedroom took place in America. As far as you're concerned, the United States is your home. Now imagine sitting in your high school counselor's office, discussing financial aid and scholarship opportunities for college. As soon as you tell your counselor that you are undocumented, they say, "Colleges in the United States don't give scholarships to 'illegals'."
"A Day in the Life of an Undocumented Student" was a set of Monologues, followed by a discussion, performed, inspired and written by Lake Forest College students. Six students performed the inspirational, true stories, wearing black shirts and jeans. The performers took turns sharing excerpts of their character's personal stories, and, in instances where the stories overlapped in content, two or more performers would speak in unison.
The event took place in a nearly-packed Mohr Student Center and was attended by faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends and family members of those involved. It was presented by the Offices of Intercultural Relations and the Theater Department.
Sharonda Pugh opened the event with an introduction, explaining the nature of the performance. Because of the upcoming Presidential Election, the campus has been buzzing about immigration and rights of undocumented students more than usual. "There are many concerns [for undocumented students]" Pugh said. "This [program] is a really great opportunity for discussion and dialogue."
In one of the monologues presented Monday, October 27th, the previous scenario was one a student was forced to face. Mia, played by Catherine Cudahy, said: Imagine spending most of your life building a house of cards, only to have it collapse at the very end. Imagine feeling powerless, like you have no control over your own future and never will. Imagine the most devastating moment in your life, a moment that made you feel as if you would never be able to move on, never recover. Imagine all those things, and maybe you will understand what this moment meant to me.
Imagine that your parents moved your family to America when you were young. You have no memories of "home." Every birthday party, every winter break from school, every picture in your bedroom took place in America. As far as you're concerned, the United States is your home. Now imagine sitting in your high school counselor's office, discussing financial aid and scholarship opportunities for college. As soon as you tell your counselor that you are undocumented, they say, "Colleges in the United States don't give scholarships to 'illegals'."
"A Day in the Life of an Undocumented Student" was a set of Monologues, followed by a discussion, performed, inspired and written by Lake Forest College students. Six students performed the inspirational, true stories, wearing black shirts and jeans. The performers took turns sharing excerpts of their character's personal stories, and, in instances where the stories overlapped in content, two or more performers would speak in unison.
The event took place in a nearly-packed Mohr Student Center and was attended by faculty, staff, students, community members, and friends and family members of those involved. It was presented by the Offices of Intercultural Relations and the Theater Department.
Sharonda Pugh opened the event with an introduction, explaining the nature of the performance. Because of the upcoming Presidential Election, the campus has been buzzing about immigration and rights of undocumented students more than usual. "There are many concerns [for undocumented students]" Pugh said. "This [program] is a really great opportunity for discussion and dialogue."
In one of the monologues presented Monday, October 27th, the previous scenario was one a student was forced to face. Mia, played by Catherine Cudahy, said: Imagine spending most of your life building a house of cards, only to have it collapse at the very end. Imagine feeling powerless, like you have no control over your own future and never will. Imagine the most devastating moment in your life, a moment that made you feel as if you would never be able to move on, never recover. Imagine all those things, and maybe you will understand what this moment meant to me.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Aztlan Buster
posted 10/30/08 @ 1:42 PM CST
Oh stop it with all this boo-hoo balderdash. Illegal aliens are criminals and parasites, one and all. Their very presence here and practically everything they do on U. (Continued…)
Maria
posted 11/12/08 @ 1:59 AM CST
It's sad there is so much hate in the immigration debate, that we are willing to punish children who had no choice but to follow their parents to this country in search of a better life. (Continued…)
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