I Want to Stay Where I Belong

Hi, my name is Camila Medina and I am a Junior at James Monroe High School. I have lived in this country since I was 2 years old and call the U.S. my home. I am as American as I can possibly be, and love Fredericksburg, which has been my hometown for as long as I can remember. I went to Hugh Mercer and Walker Grant when I was younger, and have had some of the same friends for many, many years. I go to church at the Presbyterian Church in Downtown Fredericksburg every Sunday and play on the Varsity Field Hockey team at James Monroe High School. I sing for the Advanced Women’s Choir at school and the Cantate choir at my church. I am a member of the National Honor Society and Leo Club and volunteer with them in addition to volunteering with the church. I am an active part of my youth group and love being with my church family.

I am now 16 and am getting ready to continue with my dream going to college to become an E.R. doctor. There is a high chance, however, that I may not be able to fulfill that dream. As some of you may know-and others may not- I am not a U.S. citizen, even though I wish very much to be one. My family and I are now eligible to become citizens due to my mom’s marriage to my amazing stepdad.

There is a bit of a problem, however, in my case. To start off the process of becoming a citizen, I have to send in my documentation. Unfortunately, the total cost of the paperwork is $1,500, not including the cost of my immigration physical which is $250. We have exhausted every possible idea to get the money and now I am asking you to help me. I am asking that you donate whatever money you can, whether it be $5 or $100, so that I can send my documentation in to start the process to become a citizen. I need this done a soon as I can so that I will be able to apply for college and finally be an American. I would be forever thankful for any help that you can give. I very much love the community that I have grown up in and would hate to have to leave my friends from school and from my church if I were to end up being deported if this was not done. I would miss my school and my church, the Christmas parades and First Night in Downtown Fredericksburg, Carl’s ice cream on hot summer days and Hyperion hot chocolate on cold winter ones. I would miss my home. This place is all that I know and I never want to leave. So please, if you can help me in any way, I would be forever thankful to you, because you would be the reason that I could stay where I belong.