I rarely use the word “immigrant” to describe myself, but the reality of the fact is that if you weren’t born here, you’re an immigrant. So for the purpose of this piece, I am an immigrant.

Yet again, living in a country where we meet a melting pot of a variety of cultures, religions and backgrounds, rarely does it ever bother me when people acknowledge that little fact that, according to many, “describes” most of my identity. Needless to say, I love my identity, from where I come from to whatever else contributes to who I am today- except while attending college.

Finishing my education has always been my top priority because I have come to understand one important thing- as per what my mother has always told me since I can remember, “Education is the key to success and the one thing that no one, no one can ever take away from you.” I couldn’t agree more, mom - but damn is this road to the finishing line filled with a hell lot of work!

Homework… research papers… midterms or finals.. That is not exactly what I refer to when I say “work,” but instead I'm referring to all the obstacles that come along the way and that stretch our path toward graduation longer than what it should be. While many students on campus often worry about whether the financial service center handled their FAFSA applications right, or whether the application went through at all, there’s another percentage of students who, like me, worry whether they’ll be able to afford their education at all.

Though I am not insinuating that it is only that percentage of students who worry about how to pay for their education, it is more likely to be an immigrant who finds himself or herself working overnight shifts at work or maybe working two or three jobs a week just to afford and fulfill the highest education possible.

Now, you may ask yourself “How about scholarships?” Well, there aren't quite too many out there, and though many people criticize immigrants as the highest and most competitive percentage of students, (also described as the people “who take away scholarships to qualified citizens”) it's a fact that a number of them do not qualify and are left to search nonprofit scholarships specifically for them. So our path is filled with bumps and things that may appear impossible to jump over- it’s also harder and there’s a lot of extra worries and far more work to be put into our dreams.

But it’s worth it - because as children of immigrant comers or as immigrants ourselves, it is only worth it to see that all the hard work our parents put up for us has finally paid off and even more worth it when they smile bright as we walk up that stage to receive our final reward. We’ll be making them proud.

Mom, dad, though the struggle is real, I still haven’t given up yet… the ambition is greater... I’m still chasing after my dreams.