Why I'm Marching Tomorrow

I'm marching tomorrow in Portland. There will be marches just like it all over the United States.

I can't wait to be a part of it. I can't wait to help people realize that this country has gone from being the land of opportunity to being the land where you can be split from your family for trying to give them opportunities.

It's not fair that we get yelled at and insulted by people whose ancestors did the exact same thing as the Hispanic and Latino people are doing now. They are coming here with their families, because they want the freedom and the chance to make life better for themselves.

Why is that so hard to see? Why does that merit hateful comments and rudeness from others? Why are some people afraid to see other people try to succeed here?

I am an American citizen, and I'm proud to be one. But, I am also an immigrant. I came here with my parents when I was three. We had very little, but my parents worked unbelievably hard, always, everyday. Not only did they put me through college, they went back and got their second Master's degrees. They are a success story, through and through.

I am so proud of them, of what they've accomplished. And I'm realizing the strength it must have taken for them to get to where they are. My goodness, just think about it. They left everything and everyone they held dear just for the chance, just the chance that they could offer me a better life. They've endured so much in hopes that I would succeed and get ahead in life. My goal, every day, is to prove to them that they did not sacrifice so very much in vain.

My parents did not come here to steal jobs, or become criminals, or take advantage of social security. They came with hope for a better future. And, I can assure you that every family you encounter that has immigrated here, Hispanic or not, has come for the same reason.

When did that become a bad thing? When did hopes and expectations for a better future require a piece of paper for the chance to flourish?

I see how wonderful my life is here, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have been a part of so many wonderful experiences and opportunities, despite the obstacles.

I truly believe that every person who makes that incredibly scary leap into a new, unknown future deserves the kind of life I've been blessed with.

And that is why I'm marching tomorrow.