Release The Randomness: El 2do Dia

Day 2 of my time at the Hispanic Youth Institute (HYI). Written at:

*** Friday, July 22nd, 1:42 AM ***

Man, you guys are going to hate me for such long posts but I really want to make sure I have the most detailed account of my time here at the Hispanic Youth Institute. I keep on learning new things not only about those around me but about myself as well. Let me explain,

I am so happy that I can wake up immediately even though I am not a morning person because I was able to avoid the bathroom rush hour and mostly had it to myself! There really isn't anything like having to share a bathroom with a dozen other boys that makes you desperately wish for your own bathroom (even if I have to share it with Valeria!)

Typical post-food craziness.

Breakfast naturally came after that and I seriously think that I am going to gain at least 10 pounds in my time here. All I have are potatoes!!! I have at least four servings a day! Whether it is tater tots, baked potatoes, diced fried potatoes, french fries, etc I have them during breakfast, lunch and dinner EVERY DAY. The other food is...eatable but not desireable to be honest. Oh well.

After that we went to the auditorium where some speakers gave us tips on networking which, according to the Department of Labor, is how 69% of annual hires are made (!) They also taught us how to properly shake a persons hand and give them an 'elevator speech'. That means that you introduce yourself to them and tell them who you are and what you do in less than the time it takes for an elevator to go from the 10th floor to the Lobby. And why would they teach us this?? Because we went to meet the Hispanic Heroes afterwards!

As corny as that was named some of these people really did become heroes in the few minutes I spent them. My familia (group) all sat down at a table and we sort of speed dated through the "heroes" who were professionals in a wide variety of fields (although I noticed engineers popped up more often then others). Some people that my heart went out to was the 40 year old rookie firefighter who after an abusive marriage finally decided to pursue her dreams as a firefighter, as well as Fred Soto who I mentioned in the earlier post and Tania Alvarez a success adviser at Old Dominion University. Afterwards we mingled and I went and ate with the firefighter for a while as well as the Dean of Syracuse in New York.

Then, (sorry I'm in story mode!) we went to do an activity - that turns out was actually a competition! - where you had to locate and set up a solution to an issue in the Hispanic community. My familia selected the topic "Lack of Role Models" and it turned out pretty interesting I'd I do say so myself. We'll find out tomorrow how we did!

Then came a serious of four career workshops to interest us in engineering, chemistry, (Marriott) hospitality and more engineering (Lockheed Martin has some amazing 'toys'!)

So we did all that and had dinner (consisted mostly of fries...again) and then came the part that I will NEVER forget. We watched a documentary that was based in Prince Williams County which is a neighboring county to mine. It was about how the Board of Supervisors or watever tried to pass a resolution that would enable the cops to stop people and then check and see if they are legal. I wasn't moved too much because I thought the documentary was clearly biased at that time but whatever, I'm not going to get into that. What I do want to get into is the sob-fest that followed.

You see there were four students that came down to the HYI to represent the DREAMers. If you don't know what that is please go look it up so I don't disown you as a friend. The kids had some amazing stories but what I liked best was one of the activities we did with them where you stand up if whatever they say is true. It started out easy with "stand up if you dance bachata" but ended with "stand up if you are undocumented in the US" to which at least 1/4 of the students stood up! And I'm sure there were more but they didn't have the courage to stand up just yet. My biggest surprise was that a good part of the people I had met stood up! Ernie G then had whoever wanted so say something come up and speak to us. The first courageous guy, Jonathan, went up and told his story.

He, just like many other people, came when he was young and he had to leave family behind never to see them again. I thought that he was just another ghetto-Hispanic (he was sorta dressed the part) who was apathetic towards school but Jonathan forever changed my mind. He told us of how he was angry at the people who looked down on immigrants because he was the complete opposite of all stereotypes. He was in the top 5 percentile, the cream of the crop of his school and he was angry and afraid of the fact that even though he did better than everyone else in his class he would always have the most trouble going to college if he can manage to find a way to avoid the residency problem. And after that came Araceli, who told of how she was never able to go on field trips and how she was so tired of lying to her friends about how she can't get her permit because "her mom is afraid she'll get in an accident" when in reality it's because of the fact that she is undocumented as well. Or of the other people that went up and told of how they are top of the class, valedictorian even but they might never get the chance to afford higher education because they don't have proper documentation and can't get federal financial aid.

Everything I ever thought about Hispanics our felt towards myself for being Hispanic was flipped. I may not be able to relate but the emotions that these peers stirred up in me left me (along with half the auditorium) bawling. Hispanics ARE hardworking with a tireless work ethic. They DO make differences in their communities by volunteering and taking leadership positions. They CAN and WILL succeed in school and go onto college. But the sad part is that many of them feel they can't. I deeply admire all the kids that came out today and told their stories. I am eternally moved by the sufferings that they had to go through and still go through. That is why I now support the Dream Act 100%. I don't know why I was against it before but after hearing these successful young men and women speak I want them to keep on succeeding in life and make a difference in the world because I know they can. I will support them in any way I can and I am determined to be proactive about it when I return home.