My name is Aurea Galvan Palacios. As I sit here and try to put thoughts into paper it is actually very difficult. It is difficult in many reasons as one is that I am the type of person that never asks for help..specially financial help. But honestly, I am drained. For almost a year my life has turned upside down and I have found myself facing hurdle after hurdle. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy has given me one of the greatest opportunities in life; the chance to an education. However, one of my greatest hurdle is affording a college education as a DACAmented person. As a DACAmented student/person I do not qualify for federal loans. I have tried applying for private loans and was denied due my immigration status. The reason why I am here today asking for your help is because I have been accepted to pursue a Master of Social Work degree however, I have a full time job to pay for housing, living expenses, and to be able to financially support my family back in Mexico. Close to a year ago my parents underwent self-deportation in August 2017. I do not have any family in the country to be able to offer any kind of financial support and getting my masters is critical. We live in a society where the system does not want people of color to be educated because they don't want us to succeed but I refuse to have my dreams shut down. Neither of my parents graduated from high school and now that I am given the opportunity of receiving a higher education why should my undocumented status prevent me from doing so?! It is imperative that I, a Mexican undocumented woman, receive a higher education which will allow me to bring my skills and knowledge to spaces around me. Yes, I have applied to scholarships however, financial resources are very limited to undocumented folks. My DACA expires in 2 years which is how long the masters program is and I am afraid that because I do not have the financial means to pay for school that I will have to defer my acceptance. I am hoping this fund will be able to help me pursue my graduate degree, which  will allow me to continue my goals and dreams of becoming a licensed social worker para poder luchar por la justicia!


Thank you so very much for you help, you truly do not know how much it means to me!