The Dream Resource Center at Citrus College wrapped up its Undocumented Student Action Week with a workshop intended to help undocumented students choose careers wisely on Thursday, Oct. 19.
USAW is a yearly event that is celebrated by campuses across the country in the third week of October.
According to the California Community College website, community colleges enroll the largest population of undocumented students in the nation.
At Citrus, Amayrani Ochoa, the Citrus College Dream Resource coordinator, Erick Sanzon, Dream Resource Center academic counselor, and Maria Rodriguez Vargas from the Career/Transfer Center talked to students about how to thrive as undocumented students in America, with topics including career options, securing funding for school and preparedness for changes in immigration policies.
Ochoa gave resources to undocumented students that include how to get an individual tax identification number that can be used in place of a Social Security number, links to scholarships, bank accounts and getting a matricula (an identity card for Mexican nationals who live outside of Mexico)
Vargas explained how counselors can help undocumented students with the strategies for choosing a major, which include learning about one’s interests, researching undocumented-friendly careers, state and federal policies that impact one’s status, and talking to undocumented professionals in one’s field of interest, among others.
Vargas told the students that there are three California legislations to be aware of:
- SB 1159: This allows undocumented students to get professional licenses.
- AB 1024:This allows undocumented students to get law licenses.
- AB2184: This allows undocumented students to get business licenses.
Vargas, a DACA recipient, gave out undocumented student career guide handouts to students that contain information such as websites that support undocumented students in their education journey with scholarships, grants and internships.
Vargas and Sanzon also shared their personal journeys. Vargas came from Mexico as a child and didn’t find out she was undocumented until she was in high school. However, Vargas attended college and persisted by working at her university, which in return paid her stipends that went directly toward her tuition cost.
Vargas got her undergraduate degree in intensive psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and her graduate degree in educational counseling at the University of Southern California. Vargas also said she took advantage of scholarships and grants.
Vargas said it comes down to students expressing their status with a counselor if they feel comfortable doing so, and putting themselves out there, being vulnerable, and feeling safe and acknowledged.
“We are supporting you all the way, and if we can’t help you, we will redirect you to the appropriate people,” Vargas said.
As an undocumented professional, Vargas said giving this presentation at Citrus made her feel so many great emotions.
“There was never such services and resources when I was a student,” Vargas said, “so I feel very fortunate and happy to be here in this space supporting students here at Citrus College.
“I’m just overwhelmed with emotions and happiness.”
Sanzon, a Citrus College alumnus, told the attendees that succeeding as an undocumented student comes down to “how bad do you want it?” He said resources and scholarships are out there, but one has to put in the work. Sanzon earned his bachelor’s at Loyola Marymount University, a private university, with a full-ride grant/scholarship.
Alejandro (last name not included for privacy reasons), an undocumented student at Citrus from Tijuana, Mexico, came to the U.S. when he was 4.
He said the workshop was “good” and that he knew “not surprisingly” that the college has good resources and really good people doing good stuff.
Alejandro said knowing there exists a good community and people he can reach out to when he has a question is a good thing.
“There is taboo around it and for a good reasons, people don’t want to talk about it publicly,” he said.
Alexandro has an associate degree for transfer in psychology and an associate degree in pre-allied health.
