During Crockett High’s graduation ceremony, Ibarra introduced the Pledge of Allegiance as well as the National Anthem. She says one of her greatest hardships is overcoming “the stereotype of people like me”. Trying to attend a college as an undocumented immigrant is another story. The family lives in a humble, one-bedroom apartment in McKinney.
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She also used the speech to slam Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall based on “hate and prejudice”.
She did not expect a standing ovation to follow. How about we start up lifting people instead of tearing them down! “That’s why everything I do, I do for you”. Many people think that people like me can’t be successful.
‘My reality is quite different. When Martinez’s family came to the United States in July 2010, they arrived on a tourist visa with little more than their luggage and dreams.
‘Oftentimes my intelligence was questioned because of my background.
Oklahoma leaves granting of in-state tuition rates to undocumented students up to the Oklahoma Board of Regents.
“We are here without official documentation because the USA immigration system is broken and it has forced many families to live in fear”, she said.
The 18-year-old, who has been offered a full scholarship to Yale, told classmates she had fled her abusive and alcoholic father in Mexico at age 11.
“She worked hard to get to where she is now”.
‘Despite not having the internet, a washing machine, or even my own bed, I always had knowledge at my fingertips. She was the valedictorian, with a 4.5 GPA, and graduated with 13 cords and medals.
There are an estimated 65,000 undocumented students who graduate from USA high schools each year.
Cuervo Jones tweeted: ‘I did it legally, nobody should get a short cut’. We’re a nation of laws. “It was a common trend on twitter to highlight your success through a tweet like that, and I saw many other students from across the country doing the same and sharing the things they’d overcome, so I thought I’d share mine”.
“No. It’s like she earned a scholarship by being the best student and is justifiably proud”, replied a user identified as Proud Progressive. It wasn’t the GPA, honey’.
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Lara said she was unprepared for the backlash she’s received. She says she wants to eventually become a citizen, but points out it’s not as easy as it sounds.
