Citizenship Reflection Paper

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Recommended: The Dream Act in the US

It was a mid-afternoon on Tuesday, December 8th 2010. The living room was still with only the subtle sound of the CSPAN channel breaking the silence. Yet, my heart was beating loudly with anxiety; the Senate was scheduled to take a vote on the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) as to whether to debate the bill on the Senate floor. At this point, the DREAM Act had already passed the House of Representatives; this was the last hurdle. The bill was finally put to a vote, and as the number of “yea” votes reached fifty, I started to dream of new possibilities I would be gifted as a legal resident of the United States. It was the simple luxuries that I was looking forward to the most: driving legally, the chance …show more content…

At this point in time I did not realize how drastically I would be impacted by this event. It is hard for children, and even most people, to grasp the full conception and importance of citizenship. When I was younger, it had never occurred to me that my citizenship status differentiated me from others. Naturally, learning the language and customs of a new country was difficult at first, but in time, I adjusted. Many of my friends came from different countries, spoke various languages and were of many ethnic backgrounds. I felt as though I was like everyone …show more content…

Looking back, being in a position that seemed to not have any amelioration was a stifling feeling. But, it also forced me to make a promise to myself that if I were ever given a chance to become a legal resident in the United States, I would not waste the opportunity. I took the promise I made to myself seriously and made the best of every opportunity presented. In the span of three years after receiving my legal status I have graduated from Chestnut Hill College Summa Cum Laude, interned for the Mayor’s Office in Philadelphia, became a research assistant for a political science professor, and was elected president of the Student Political Science Association. Today, I look back on my years being an “illegal” with pride and gratitude for the life skills I have

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