JP Puts Her Dreams on Hold

JP was 14 years old when she learned she was undocumented. She found out from her mother, who was applying for JP to attend private schools that her mother felt would protect her better than her current school. JP felt ashamed and didn’t feel she could even share her secret with her closest friends, so she dealt with her fears and confusion alone and without support for many years.

There are psychological ramifications that come with being illegal. JP said, “It’s demoralizing to not feel equal to your peers, when you’re already a minority race.” In JP’s case, she wasn’t even an “equal” to her brother, who is an American citizen by virtue of being born in this country while their father attended the Wharton School and their mother studied at Bryn Mawr. JP was born after the family had returned to South Korea.

Moving to the United States at age 5, JP has no memory of a life in South Korea. She had a difficult time in school at first, because her English was poor and her teachers weren’t very understanding. But after she began attending a private school, her life was transformed, and she blossomed as a student. Still, she felt isolated.

“I remember being really upset because I couldn’t get a driver’s license like everybody else,” JP confessed. “All my friends were driving, and I had to act like I wasn’t interested.”

When it came time for college, JP was unable to apply for financial aid. Although her parents had been well educated, they were unable to hold jobs on par with their education because they were undocumented. JP applied as an international student to the first college she attended, but couldn’t afford to continue after the first year. In later applications, JP appended a letter that revealed her status and requested financial assistance in spite of it. “I also knew that, by being honest from the start, I wouldn’t have to worry about being discovered and kicked out later,” she said.

JP ultimately found a school that was willing to pay her way. She was so moved that the people at this school had faith in her that she worked voraciously and went on to graduate magna cum laude. Today she is finishing her graduate studies at Columbia University, where she has been supported through some scholarships from the school and sponsorship from her father’s company. When she graduates in a couple of weeks, she won’t be able to use her degree, because she isn’t documented.

Perhaps she’ll get a green card one of these days. “I try not to think about it,” said JP, “because it can be very destructive to keep planning for something that you have absolutely no control over.” But she wants to wait to start her career full force when she can do so legally. No internships or part-time gigs for her, she says; she’d rather be a nanny than not be allowed to fully enter her profession.

For now, JP’s dreams are on hold.

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JP Puts Her Dreams on Hold

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