Due to current political climate and heated conversations regarding immigration and deportation of families, specially young children I have decided to open up and share my own personal story. I would like to state ahead of time how grateful and lucky I am to be living in this country and that I am not taking it for granted. I feel privileged to be able to be bilingual, to have legal documentation and stay in 2 different countries that are next door neighbors. I would also like to mention that sharing this story publicly is very difficult and has taken a lot of courage. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to share this with you and be able to share a bit about what it was like for me.
Since 2001 when I arrived in America I was always careful, have always been careful to not say much. To keep quiet to stay away from attention, not to get myself in trouble with the law and avoid places where Immigration, border patrol & ICE roam around. This was my life for 11-12 years. I was afraid to be detained, ripped apart from my mother & siblings who are U.S. citizens. I fought my way legally to stay here. I went down the road of depression when I couldn't attend a 4 yr university because I was not a resident, citizen nor had a social to attend. I couldn't even find a job. For almost 2 years because I wasn't allowed. I remember the day I got finger printed by U.S. customs my heart pounded so much. I knew that I had to be extra careful since that day because the Government knew I was here. I remember being so afraid Of even stepping foot in San Ysidro. Practically anything north of La Jolla and south Chula vista. I lived in fear of being tossed in a country, city I knew nothing of. After high school I was in a long term relationship in which my boyfriend at the time knew about my immigration status, he offered to marry me to help me achieve and excel my dreams. I was so "blessed" to have someone who would do that for me but, I declined because I didn't want to obtain my status though someone else. I wanted to do it for myself and so far I am so lucky to have had that opportunity present itself and to have the drive I did to go out and find a great lawyer and file my paperwork. Fast forward to now. I am here legally, have done things legally. I am here with all of my documentation and yet I am afraid to be deported because this administration insists of sending people back even with documentation. I am afraid of being taken away from my son. It literally kills me and breaks my heart that there are so many people running scared. So many children without their parents being detained. You have no idea how much it is affecting me. I am voicing myself for those who can't speak up, because they are scared, afraid. No child should ever be ripped apart from their parent. Ever. 1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
0 Comments
Written: 10/17/2017
I was 8 when i was first sexually harassed by a boy in my class. Told his parents and my patents and they didn't believe me. When I 10 when I was first cat called. I kept being harassed for many years. In Middle school the cat calling got worse. I used to just flip the finger to the cars. In 6th grade a high school boy "was playing" with me and he groped me. He touched me inappropriately and i yelled and his patents defended him. I was told to "shut up" Not really understanding what was happening. In middle school another boy groped me in summer school. I spoke up, the teachers and principal said nothing. They told me to "calm down" the groping continued for a whole summer. I remember being so frustrated. Wondering why I was the one who felt guilty. In 8th grade a man who ruined my life touched me in my private areas. I also spoke up and was told that I was "confused". When I was 16 this same man tried to rape me. I spoke up and yelled. And he was arrested for 5 FUCKING DAYS. They dropped the charges because he didn't actually rape me. To this day I am infuriated by the fact that no one did anything to defend me. No other child regardless of the gender should ever have to live through this. Sexual harassment and rape are not issues to be taken lightly. We need to educate our boys and girls that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated and will be held accountable. #MeToo #nosexualharassment #educateWritt This post was taken from my own instagram
I wrote about this post, because I felt that it was really powerful. I also remember feeling empowered and not feeling alone by the message. if you click on the image you will be re-directed to my instagram. written: 10/15/2017 I don't always talk about mental health or how it affects many people in the world like me. After almost a decade i can say that I've made peace with my inner demons (for now at least) it has been a difficult process but with the help of friends, family and giving it my full determination I am dealing it in a better way. This is something I will live with for the rest of my life and not everyone will understand because its not something they can fix. Just know its not your fault, you are not the cause nor the blame. For those of you dealing with a mental illness know that you are not alone. #mentalawarenessmonth. |
Did you know?
*Kitzia likes coffee and toast for breakfast Archives
June 2018
Categories |