Category: Fear of Failure

Cristina C, 23, Ontario, CA, Born in Chiapas, Mexico Since my parents had already settled in the U.S., I lived with my aunt for two years until they were able to send for me and make arrangements for my border crossing ...

Fernando R (aka Clavillaso), 29, Lynwood, CA, Born in Mexico Only 13, I felt I had to leave home and find work in the U.S. to help my family. After a terrible accident, my mom totally debilitated. My father was a carpent ...

Mithi DR, 31, Los Angeles, CA, Born in the Philippines It has taken me 26 years to become a legal resident, so I know far too much about deferred dreams. I first came to the U.S. with my family. Although we had hopes of ...

Alfredo S, 36, Pacific Grove, CA, Born in Mexico When I first came to the States from Mexico in 1999, I stayed with a friend. I came on my own and spent days in the desert without food and water. I knew there was a jo ...

Mayra H, 24, Mount Vernon, NY, Born in Costa Rica I was only six months old when I came to the States with my mother and siblings on a tourist visa to reunite with my father who was already working here. My immediate ...

Yuritzi G, 36 (16 Stateside), Born & Living in Mexico.  I was young, afraid and desperate to reunite with my family in the States so when asked at the border if I was a U.S. citizen, I said yes. And although I ...

“Dude, there are cops and dogs outside my house and a SWAT team has the street closed.” This was what my cousin barked at me over the phone. I walked into my step- dad’s room to let him know, even though I didn’t thi ...

My mother was already in the States and I missed her, but I had started my DJ career in Guatemala. Mom had made her move when I was only seven, leaving me in the care of my older sister. She kept asking me to join he ...

For much of my childhood, I yo-yoed between Mexico and the States, coming for the first time when I was two, back at five and returning to stay in 2000 when I was eight. This harrowing journey involved crossing the R ...

Jose Antonio M, 19, Miami, Born in Nicaragua Flying with an aunt, I came to the States in January 2001 from Nicaragua when I was only four. Though my thoughts were of Disneyworld, I was really brought to the States fo ...