My name is Joaquin Torres and I support AB 131. I was brought over to the United States at the age of one. As much as I would love to, I can’t say I have any idea of what life in Mexico is. Nevertheless, it’s been ingrained in me through society that I am neither welcome, nor appreciated. As a child my parents always told me to educate myself if I ever wanted to succeed in life. I have been adamant in following the lectures that they always gave me.

My teachers, counselors, family all praised me along the way. Through my own determination I graduated high school with a 3.5 gpa, while passing several AP exams. I scored at the top of my class in the ACT and SAT tests for university admission. I even got accepted into Santa Clara University. My life would have been all but a dream had I not been reminded every day that I have no papers.

Luckily I can say that I am the youngest of my family and thus haven’t had to face the same struggle as some individuals but yet I feel some kind of entitlement. In the end I have had a disillusionment with merits. I feel that I have a lot to offer that I haven’t done simply because I can’t. And now at San Jose City College I feel like I’m being cheated out of a higher quality education. I have been doing all I can, I even completed a semester of college while in high school through AP exams. Ultimately, I want to finish my transfer requirements by Fall 2012. I am really hoping that if all goes well, I will be able to receive financial aid by the time I transfer. Given the conditions of my upbringing, and those of our society, all I really want is an education regardless of the institution.

My name is Yesenia Capellino. With the hard work of many supporting me, I am proud to say that I’m a student at UCLA, majoring in Psychology. It is a surreal experience being undocumented, but now, more then ever, I am optimistic about my future. Since the passage of AB 131, I know I will have the financial help to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree and continue on to Graduate school and eventually working my way into getting a doctorate. Ultimately, I wish to fulfill my mothers desires for wanting a better life for me and my siblings.

I want to take what I learned in school and give back to the community that has helped shape me into the motivated person I am today. In California, we are very fortunate to have the support of our political leaders, through the passage of the CA DREAM Act, because it is a worthwhile investment, it gives all DREAMers ambition to keep fighting and pushing forward, toward our goals and DREAMS.

As an undocumented student, one of the biggest challenges I face on a daily basis has always been trying to figure out how to pay for school. Everything, from tuition, books, transportation and food all add up each semester and the decision to stay in school becomes harder and harder to make. I can’t always afford to be in school, so that means taking small breaks until I have enough money to cover the cost, and always playing catch up.

With AB 131, I and other undocumented students will finally have the opportunity to focus solely on school. Living in a low-income community like East L.A., in which families prioritize making ends meat over an education, graduating from high school and being the first in your family to attend college is a momentous mile stone. AB 131 will provide the aid and opportunities for students like myself, and others to continue and finish their education. CA has supported undocumented students in the past, and now it will provide more opportunities for us to succeed.

Erick Huerta is a Journalism student at East Los Angeles Community College and a member of Dream Team Los Angeles