RP 2: Citizenship-The Bridge To My Dreams!

Reading about immigration this week made me think a lot about my family. I am the daughter of two immigrant parents. I am part of a family who worked hard to gain their citizenship. I remember seeing my parents studying for the citizenship exam. Moreover, it is not a cheap process, I remember seeing them save money in order to pay the lawyer that was helping them. Seeing their struggle made me appreciate that I did not have to go through that process because I was given US citizenship at birth. I have so many privileges as a citizen such as voting, being able to get a license, to get property, and being able to apply for FAFSA, which is what has helped me greatly to pay my education. However, as a Latina in this country, the fact that I am a citizen gets ignored a great deal of the time. For example, when being asked the million dollar question "where are you from?...No, but really where are you from?" Citizenship has given me document privileges but not social privileges. Why is that Latinos cannot be seen as citizens in the eye of society. Why is it so hard to believe that there are many Latinos that were born in the United States? I know citizenship is a privilege and there are many people in this country who wish they could have that privilege.  However, there have been moments where I have asked myself, what is the point of having citizenship when I am still perceived as if I did not. On the other hand, when I travel to Guatemala and El Salvador I am glorified for being born in the US. This is something that I hate. Only because I am “American” by birth does not make me better than them. My US citizenship is not better than their Guatemalan citizenship or their Salvadorian citizenship. In fact sometimes I wish I had been born in Guatemala or El Salvador. However, I know that my citizenship status in the United States can be used to be a voice for the voiceless. As a citizen I have more freedom to challenge the system. I have more opportunities to be able to help my people. If I were to get arrested protesting I do not have to face the fear of getting deported and knowing that all the sacrifices done to be in this country can be just taken away from me by authority. Although my citizenship cannot be physically seen, it has gotten me far in life. It is because of my citizenship that I can be at Kalamazoo College and not have to pay a dime. It is because of my citizenship that I have been able to work. Due to my citizenship status I have the privilege to travel back to Guatemala and El Salvador. If I was not a citizen then I would not be able to accomplish any of my dreams. Being a Latina citizen can be painful but it is also a relief and a bridge to my dreams.