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“I was ashamed and very scared. It was a very weird feeling. I was embarrassed to tell people,” said Karla Estrada, 20, biological psychology and political science major who described what it feels like to be an undocumented student.
Since joining I.D.E.A.S, Estrada now has the support she needs.
“I started to learn that there is nothing wrong with it. That’s who I am,” Estrada said.
Improving, Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success, commonly known as I.D.E.A.S, is a political organization that was created in 2008 by three former Mt. SAC students, Andi Valenzuela, Imelda Plascencia and Sandy Arenas, to help support undocumented students financially and emotionally.
I.D.E.A.S is a melting pot made up with undocumented and documented students who believe in educational opportunity for everyone.
In the past, the organization was originally fighting for immigration reform and educational budgets but as time passed, new issues arose in the political arena that inspired I.D.E.A.S members to act. One of the greatest battles I.D.E.A.S fought for was the federal DREAM ACT, first introduced 2008. The purpose of the act was to make education more affordable for undocumented students. Although the federal DREAM Act has been rejected four times in the past, I.D.E.A.S finally won their greatest victory when Gov. Jerry Brown passed the California DREAM Act on Oct. 8.
“After years of nothing, we actually have a victory and it feels really great,” said Estrada. Through the changes that I.D.E.A.S has had since their start in 2008, the DREAM Act has been the sweetest accomplishment for all undocumented students so far.
I.D.E.A.S supports all undocumented students and even though the organization mostly comprised of Latinos members, being ndocumented applies to all ethnicities.
“I have to admit that there is a lacking of diversity in I.D.E.A.S and it should be worked on. The organization is definitely not only composed of Latinos,” Estrada said.
According to newamericamedia.org 40 percent of undocumented students attending college are Asian and on the website it explains some reasons why the undocumented Asian community have not been as active and outspoken like the Latino community. Interviews of some undocumented Asian students on the site show that they feel ashamed to be undocumented and it is seen as an identity they feel they should hide.
With I.D.E.A.S, all undocumented stdents are given the emotional supports to express their daily struggles and are accepted within the group. Some I.D.E.A.S members described their meeting with the organization to be intimate experience. Seleney Rodriguez, 19, sociology and ethnic studies major, has been a member since 2010.
“You feel very comfortable in your in your environment. You feel free to talk and share about how you feel. As well as giving support to other members,” Rodriguez said.
I.D.E.A.S meetings take place on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bld. 26 room 2490. For further information about the organization, contact advisor(s): ElmerRodriguez (Ext. 5989/erodriguez@mtsac.edu), Kurt Kemp (Ext. 4583/kkemp@mtsac.edu) and Laura Y. Gonazlez (Ext. 6375/lgonzalez@mtsac.edu).
-Bianca Ornelas
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