by Jorge Holguin

Have you ever been in a room where you were out of words?

Not because you did not have anything to share but because of your lack of the language.

I have.

At the age of eight, I arrived in the United States with my sisters, Laura (9), and Martha (13) from our home in Cuauhtemoc-Chihuahua, Mexico.

My mom had moved us to the United States first, returning back home once a year or every other year. After 9/11, though, she decided to bring us all to the United States. She was seeking a better future for us; because as a single parent, she knew opportunities in Mexico were slim to none.

When I arrived in Kansas City, It was mid-September and the school year had started already. I was placed in East Elementary (now East High School). Here, I learned what it was to start from zero as an ELL student.

My time at East Elementary was a hard adjustment, but before I knew it the school year was over and I learned I would be changing schools again. Next year, I started at Trailwoods Elementary. It was here that I began to make new friends and felt supported and encouraged by my teachers.

I began to feel at home.

It was bittersweet, though; because for the first time that me and my sister, Laura, were at different schools.

In high school, I learn what it was to dream — dream big.

Mentor Gilbert — Alta Vista Charter School

I started high school at Alta Vista Charter School (now Guadalupe Charters High School) where I began to think about college as an option through their Early College Program, Hispanic Leadership Opportunity Program (HLOP) and Latinos of Tomorrow.

But I soon realized the truth about being undocumented, while I was applying to college.

I received endless rejection letters and many times nearly gave up on my dream to attend college; but my high school counselor and community mentors from HLOP reached out to admissions counselors on my behalf.

However, I learned there is always someone to pick you back up.

Thanks to all that support I was able to start at Donnelly College in June of 2011, the same month that my daughter, Melody, was born. I soon was able to transfer to Rockhurst University as a Phi Theta Kappa member. I graduated in Spring 2015 with a B.A. in Nonprofit Management.

Since, 2012, I have been a DACA recipient; it’s allowed me to work and to alleviate many fears, but I have not forgotten that there are many that still do not have this opportunity; so I continue to work to close these equity gaps. My most recent project has been with my startup, Preguntame, a platform that provides college-access resources and local support in collaboration with the Mid-Continent Public Library.

My experiences are what shaped and continue to shape the work I do. To provide resources and support for communities to have every shot at success that I did. It’s the work I’m proud to continue at LEANLAB as the Manager of Community Organizing.

I believe there are many dreams that have been forgotten and it’s up to us to shine hope and resources before it’s too late.