00:00:01.209 --> 00:00:03.169
Viewers like you make
this program possible.

00:00:03.253 --> 00:00:05.088
Support your local PBS station.

00:00:06.172 --> 00:00:18.059
♪ ♪

00:00:18.143 --> 00:00:19.144
MY NAME IS DAYSU.

00:00:19.227 --> 00:00:20.145
MY NAME IS ISAAC.

00:00:20.228 --> 00:00:21.146
I'M A SENIOR.

00:00:21.229 --> 00:00:21.938
I'M A JUNIOR.

00:00:22.021 --> 00:00:23.523
I LOVE BEING HISPANIC. I AM.

00:00:23.606 --> 00:00:25.275
MY FAVORITE SUBJECT IN CLASS
IS SCIENCE.

00:00:25.358 --> 00:00:26.943
DOES THEATER COUNT AS A SUBJECT?

00:00:27.026 --> 00:00:29.112
THE BEGINNING
OF MY FRESHMAN YEAR,

00:00:29.195 --> 00:00:32.699
I WOULDN'T EVEN SEE MYSELF
BEING EVEN A SENIOR.

00:00:32.782 --> 00:00:35.952
A LOT OF PEOPLE SINCE I STARTED
MY FRESHMAN YEAR

00:00:36.035 --> 00:00:36.536
HAVE DROPPED OUT.

00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:41.416
MY BIGGEST, WILDEST DREAM IS TO
BUY A BIG HOUSE FOR MY PARENTS.

00:00:41.499 --> 00:00:44.043
IN THE FUTURE,
I WILL BE A TEACHER.

00:00:44.127 --> 00:00:45.420
I WANT TO BECOME A DENTIST.

00:00:45.503 --> 00:00:45.837
CIVIL ENGINEER.

00:00:46.963 --> 00:00:47.756
I'M GOING TO BE
THE FIRST ONE TO GRADUATE

00:00:47.839 --> 00:00:50.175
IN MY FAMILY FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

00:00:58.725 --> 00:01:00.852
Man: FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY
WILL BE DETERMINED

00:01:00.935 --> 00:01:02.437
BY WHAT HAPPENS IN ITS SCHOOLS.

00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:04.189
IT'S NOT JUST OUR DEMOCRACY.

00:01:05.607 --> 00:01:09.694
IT'S OUR ECONOMY
SEGMENT OF THE U.S. POPULATION.

00:01:09.778 --> 00:01:12.781
SO IN MANY WAYS, WE ARE GOING TO
SEE A LATINO FUTURE.

00:01:12.864 --> 00:01:16.659
WE CAN'T ALLOW DIFFERENCES
RELATED TO LANGUAGE,

00:01:16.743 --> 00:01:19.412
CULTURE, RACE BECOME
AN OBSTACLE TO DOING

00:01:19.496 --> 00:01:21.498
WHAT'S IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST.

00:01:21.581 --> 00:01:25.126
IF WE DON'T USE EDUCATION
AS A MEANS TO SUPPORT

00:01:25.210 --> 00:01:27.879
AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR KIDS
TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY,

00:01:27.962 --> 00:01:30.340
THEN WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS RELEGATING ANOTHER GENERATION

00:01:30.423 --> 00:01:33.259
OF KIDS IN POVERTY,
AND WE PAY FOR IT.

00:01:33.343 --> 00:01:35.929
WELL, THE DROPOUT RATES
TEND TO BE HIGHER

00:01:36.012 --> 00:01:37.722
FOR LATINO BOYS THAN FOR GIRLS.

00:01:37.806 --> 00:01:40.600
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IS THAT
BOYS ARE MORE LIKELY

00:01:40.683 --> 00:01:43.895
TO BECOME ALIENATED,
DISENGAGED IN SCHOOL.

00:01:43.978 --> 00:01:47.899
I THINK THAT BOYS START TO FEEL
THE PULL TOWARDS WORK,

00:01:47.982 --> 00:01:53.029
THE PULL OF THE STREETS, IN WAYS
THAT GIRLS DON'T AS STRONGLY.

00:02:16.344 --> 00:02:18.388
[BELL RINGING]

00:02:18.471 --> 00:02:20.723
[EDUARDO INHALES]

00:02:20.807 --> 00:02:22.725
[EXHALES]

00:02:22.809 --> 00:02:26.896
Eduardo: WHEN I GO RUNNING
AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD,

00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:29.023
IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES.

00:02:29.107 --> 00:02:32.360
MOST KIDS HERE GET IN TROUBLE.

00:02:32.443 --> 00:02:35.446
THAT'S JUST THE BAD PART
ABOUT CITY HEIGHTS.

00:02:35.530 --> 00:02:39.033
MY SISTER WAS THE FIRST ONE
TO JOIN A GANG,

00:02:39.117 --> 00:02:41.619
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
MY BROTHER STARTED HANGING OUT

00:02:41.703 --> 00:02:45.665
WITH MY SISTER'S FRIENDS, AND
HE ENDED UP JOINING THE GANG.

00:02:45.748 --> 00:02:49.335
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT EVER
GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL

00:02:49.419 --> 00:02:51.754
AND WENT OFF TO DO SOMETHING
GOOD WITH THEIR LIVES.

00:02:51.838 --> 00:02:55.550
ALL I KNEW WAS VIOLENCE
AND GANGS.

00:02:56.676 --> 00:03:00.805
ALL MY FRIENDS GREW UP WITH ME
SOLD DRUGS.

00:03:00.889 --> 00:03:04.809
SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS GOING
TO BE MY CAREER.

00:03:08.271 --> 00:03:11.190
EVERYBODY THOUGHT
THAT I WAS GOING TO DROP OUT

00:03:11.274 --> 00:03:13.651
AND JUST NOT DO ANYTHING
WITH MY LIFE.

00:03:13.735 --> 00:03:14.944
MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN THINK
I WOULD LIVE TO AGE 18

00:03:15.028 --> 00:03:20.283
BECAUSE I WAS REALLY DEEP
INTO THE GANG.

00:03:21.868 --> 00:03:24.621
Noguera:
THE LATINO DROPOUT PROBLEM

00:03:24.704 --> 00:03:26.623
IS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROBLEM

00:03:26.706 --> 00:03:31.002
BECAUSE THE LATINO POPULATION
ITSELF IS VERY DIVERSE.

00:03:31.085 --> 00:03:34.964
RECENT IMMIGRANTS FEEL
INORDINATE PRESSURE TO WORK,

00:03:35.048 --> 00:03:37.050
TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES,
TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

00:03:37.133 --> 00:03:39.385
THEY ACTUALLY MAKE
A VERY RESPONSIBLE DECISION.

00:03:39.469 --> 00:03:41.137
THEY REALIZE THAT SCHOOL
IS NOT WORKING OUT.

00:03:41.220 --> 00:03:42.847
ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE
UNDOCUMENTED

00:03:42.931 --> 00:03:45.350
AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE,

00:03:45.433 --> 00:03:47.644
THEN WORKING SEEMS
TO MAKE MUCH MORE SENSE

00:03:47.727 --> 00:03:50.396
THAN STAYING IN SCHOOL.

00:04:17.674 --> 00:04:21.594
STARTING 12th GRADE, YOU START
THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE.

00:04:21.678 --> 00:04:23.513
IT WASN'T UNTIL THEN
THAT I STARTED

00:04:23.596 --> 00:04:26.641
SORT OF LOOKING AT APPLICATIONS
AND WAS THINKING, LIKE,

00:04:26.724 --> 00:04:28.476
"HOLY CRAP, I DON'T
HAVE A SOCIAL.

00:04:28.559 --> 00:04:31.396
I DON'T HAVE A VISA."

00:04:31.479 --> 00:04:33.147
I HAD A TALK WITH MY COUNSELOR.

00:04:33.231 --> 00:04:36.317
SHE ASKED ME, YOU KNOW,
"ARE YOU ILLEGAL?"

00:04:36.401 --> 00:04:39.153
I PUT MY HEAD DOWN, AND
I STARTED CRYING A LITTLE BIT,

00:04:39.237 --> 00:04:42.991
AND I SAID, "YEAH. I'M ILLEGAL."

00:04:43.074 --> 00:04:44.993
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

00:04:45.076 --> 00:04:46.786
ALL MY OPTIONS
WERE SORT OF JUST GONE.

00:04:46.869 --> 00:04:49.038
I WAS FEELING REALLY DEPRESSED.

00:04:49.122 --> 00:04:53.876
ACADEMICALLY, MY GPA FELL, LIKE,
FOUR, FIVE POINTS.

00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:58.131
WHEN I REALIZED EXACTLY
HOW BEING UNDOCUMENTED

00:04:58.214 --> 00:05:01.300
WOULD AFFECT ME,
I DID HAVE THAT THOUGHT

00:05:01.384 --> 00:05:03.761
OF DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

00:05:05.263 --> 00:05:08.933
[BELL RINGS]

00:05:09.017 --> 00:05:11.269
Woman: WE KNOW THAT
ENGAGEMENT WITH SCHOOL

00:05:11.352 --> 00:05:15.064
IS A VERY IMPORTANT PRECURSOR
TO COMPLETING SCHOOL

00:05:15.148 --> 00:05:16.941
AND DOING WELL IN SCHOOL--

00:05:17.025 --> 00:05:17.775
IF YOU ARE ENGAGED,

00:05:18.818 --> 00:05:20.153
IF YOU'RE DOING THINGS
THAT KEEP YOU THERE,

00:05:20.236 --> 00:05:22.613
KEEP YOU WANTING
TO COME TO SCHOOL.

00:05:22.697 --> 00:05:24.782
IF YOU'RE FEELING
LIKE YOU DON'T BELONG,

00:05:24.866 --> 00:05:26.951
THAT OTHER PEOPLE
AREN'T REALLY ACCEPTING YOU,

00:05:27.035 --> 00:05:32.081
THIS PREDICTS VERY HIGHLY FOR
STUDENTS DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL.

00:06:05.990 --> 00:06:08.785
I KIND OF HAVE TO LIVE
TWO LIFE--

00:06:08.868 --> 00:06:11.454
WHO I WAS AND WHAT
I PRETENDED TO BE.

00:06:11.537 --> 00:06:15.083
SO I KIND OF DECIDED
TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL.

00:06:15.166 --> 00:06:18.461
SCHOOL WAS MY FOCUS, AND, LIKE,
THAT, I KIND OF USED IT

00:06:18.544 --> 00:06:20.421
TO GET AWAY, KIND OF,
LIKE, DISTRACT PEOPLE.

00:06:20.505 --> 00:06:21.881
"OH, NO. HE'S JUST REALLY
INTO CLASSES.

00:06:21.964 --> 00:06:23.382
THAT'S WHY HE DOESN'T
HAVE A GIRLFRIEND."

00:06:23.466 --> 00:06:26.636
LIKE, I JUST TRIED TO FIND A WAY
TO JUST DISTRACT PEOPLE

00:06:26.719 --> 00:06:29.931
SO THEY WON'T FIND OUT
WHO I WAS.

00:06:30.681 --> 00:06:33.601
HAVING, LIKE, PEOPLE BULLY ME,
GOING AGAINST ME

00:06:33.684 --> 00:06:38.397
BECAUSE I WAS GAY, BEING LIKE,
"OH, NO. YOU'RE A FAG,"

00:06:38.481 --> 00:06:40.525
I DON'T LIKE IT.

00:06:40.608 --> 00:06:43.069
A COUPLE OF TIMES
IN MY FRESHMAN YEAR,

00:06:43.152 --> 00:06:46.322
I FELT LIKE DROPPING OUT.

00:07:10.721 --> 00:07:11.597
OK. IF YOU TELL ME

00:07:11.681 --> 00:07:13.224
TO FORGET
THE SURVEY,

00:07:13.307 --> 00:07:16.811
FORGET THE SURVEY,
IS IT BETTER?

00:07:16.894 --> 00:07:18.563
Eduardo: WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL,
THAT'S WHERE I GREW UP,

00:07:18.646 --> 00:07:23.860
AND THAT'S WHERE ALL MY ISSUES
AND SITUATIONS STARTED.

00:07:23.943 --> 00:07:26.195
WHEN I WENT THERE,
WE HAD SECURITY

00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:29.574
IN EVERY SINGLE CORNER
AND FLOOR.

00:07:29.657 --> 00:07:31.367
COME ON.
WHERE'S YOUR NAME TAG?

00:07:31.450 --> 00:07:32.368
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
CAMINO.

00:07:32.451 --> 00:07:34.704
CAMINO.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

00:07:34.787 --> 00:07:36.581
Eduardo: EVERY OTHER
OLDER BROTHER OR SISTER

00:07:36.664 --> 00:07:39.584
WAS INVOLVED IN A GANG,
AND THAT'S WHY THE LITTLE KIDS--

00:07:39.667 --> 00:07:42.879
SMALL KIDS, EIGHTH GRADERS,
SEVENTH GRADERS, SIXTH GRADERS--

00:07:42.962 --> 00:07:46.799
THEY WERE TRYING TO FOLLOW
THE BROTHER'S FOOTSTEPS.

00:07:46.883 --> 00:07:47.383
Man: ALL RIGHT.

00:07:48.467 --> 00:07:49.218
IF YOU HAVE YOUR NAME TAG
AND YOUR LANYARD,

00:07:49.302 --> 00:07:51.971
I'LL TAKE YOUR PASS.

00:07:52.054 --> 00:07:55.641
WELL, YOU GUYS, I GRADUATED
FROM WILSON IN 2006.

00:07:55.725 --> 00:07:59.061
MY BROTHER CAME THROUGH HERE
AND MY SISTER, AS WELL.

00:07:59.145 --> 00:08:02.106
YOU GUYS GOT TO IMAGINE ME--
SKIN BALD; BIG, BAGGY SHIRT;

00:08:02.190 --> 00:08:05.109
BIG, BAGGY PANTS;
AND MY NIKE CORTEZES.

00:08:05.193 --> 00:08:07.445
I WAS A CHOLO.

00:08:08.446 --> 00:08:11.240
A LOT OF PEOPLE
DIDN'T APPROACH ME.

00:08:11.324 --> 00:08:11.866
I WAS MEAN.

00:08:12.742 --> 00:08:13.701
THIS WAS MY HAPPY FACE,
ACTUALLY.

00:08:13.784 --> 00:08:18.497
ONE NIGHT, I DECIDED TO HANG OUT
WITH MY FRIENDS,

00:08:18.581 --> 00:08:21.334
AND THAT VERY SAME NIGHT,
I GOT ARRESTED,

00:08:21.417 --> 00:08:23.586
AND I WAS FACING SIX YEARS.

00:08:24.837 --> 00:08:27.131
I GUESS IT WAS JUST
THE ADRENALINE.

00:08:27.215 --> 00:08:29.258
I LIKED THE ADRENALINE
THAT WAS COMING

00:08:29.342 --> 00:08:31.510
WHEN I WENT TO HIT UP
SOMEBODY ELSE.

00:08:31.594 --> 00:08:33.679
SO EVERYWHERE I WENT,
I ALWAYS CONSTANTLY

00:08:33.763 --> 00:08:37.934
GOT INTO FIGHTS
WITH OTHER RIVAL GANGS.

00:08:38.017 --> 00:08:39.769
I GOT STABBED.

00:08:39.852 --> 00:08:43.940
SOME OF MY FRIENDS ACTUALLY GOT
REALLY BADLY INJURED,

00:08:44.023 --> 00:08:46.943
AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS
ALSO GOT KILLED

00:08:47.026 --> 00:08:48.986
THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE.

00:08:49.070 --> 00:08:51.447
HE GOT SHOT IN THE HEAD.

00:08:51.530 --> 00:08:53.699
THAT WAS MY LIFE.

00:08:54.533 --> 00:08:57.286
I WAS JUST FOLLOWING
THE SAME FOOTSTEPS

00:08:57.370 --> 00:08:59.747
AS MY OLDER SISTER AND
MY OLDER BROTHER WERE DOING--

00:08:59.830 --> 00:09:02.959
DITCHING SCHOOL,
NOT DOING HOMEWORK.

00:09:03.042 --> 00:09:06.462
I DIDN'T REALLY CARE
ABOUT SCHOOL THAT MUCH.

00:09:07.964 --> 00:09:10.925
[DOG BARKS]

00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:13.469
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:09:40.288 --> 00:09:43.457
Eduardo: THE ONLY REASON
MY PARENTS WANTED US TO BE HERE

00:09:43.541 --> 00:09:45.960
IN THE UNITED STATES
WAS FOR THE EDUCATION.

00:09:46.043 --> 00:09:48.504
THEY WANTED US TO SUCCEED
AND GO OFF TO COLLEGE.

00:09:48.587 --> 00:09:51.757
OF COURSE, MY PARENTS,
THEY ARE REALLY HARD WORKERS,

00:09:51.841 --> 00:09:54.510
AND THEY'VE BEEN ALWAYS
WORKING IN HOTELS

00:09:54.593 --> 00:09:59.348
AND JUST CLEANING HOUSES
AND CLEANING OTHER BUILDINGS.

00:09:59.432 --> 00:10:02.727
SO THEY WERE CONSTANTLY
ALWAYS WORKING.

00:10:02.810 --> 00:10:04.228
SINCE MY PARENTS
WERE NEVER HOME,

00:10:04.312 --> 00:10:08.357
ME AND MY BROTHER USED TO ALWAYS
RUN AROUND THE STREETS,

00:10:08.441 --> 00:10:10.860
AND WE HAD SO MUCH FREEDOM.

00:10:10.943 --> 00:10:12.820
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:10:51.067 --> 00:10:52.943
I JOINED THE GANG
WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD,

00:10:53.027 --> 00:10:56.280
WHICH TENDS TO BE THE AGE
THAT MOST OF US DO.

00:10:56.364 --> 00:10:59.408
I GOT ATTRACTED
TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS POWER,

00:10:59.492 --> 00:11:02.787
THEIR TOUGHNESS,
THAT PEOPLE WERE SCARED OF THEM.

00:11:02.870 --> 00:11:07.750
BASICALLY, I FELT LIKE I WAS
A BROKEN-DOWN, SHY KID,

00:11:07.833 --> 00:11:09.293
NO FRIENDS, NO--

00:11:09.377 --> 00:11:12.588
I DIDN'T HAVE NOWHERE TO GO,
AND THE GANG SEEMED TO BE LIKE,

00:11:12.671 --> 00:11:15.674
"IF I JOIN THIS GANG,
I AM GOING TO BE SEEN.

00:11:15.758 --> 00:11:17.385
I AM GOING TO BE RESPECTED."

00:11:17.468 --> 00:11:20.513
I THINK THE KEY ELEMENTS
FOR A LOT OF KIDS LIKE US

00:11:20.596 --> 00:11:26.268
WERE BEING ROOTLESS, FEELING
POWERLESS AND FUTURELESS.

00:11:26.352 --> 00:11:27.061
WHAT WAS OUR FUTURE?

00:11:27.853 --> 00:11:28.771
TO END UP IN
THOSE SAME FACTORIES,

00:11:28.854 --> 00:11:30.481
THOSE SAME
NEIGHBORHOODS.

00:11:30.564 --> 00:11:32.942
YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT THERE
WAS A UNIVERSITY

00:11:33.025 --> 00:11:36.362
OR INCOME OR A BUSINESS
THAT YOU WERE GOING TO ENTER,

00:11:36.445 --> 00:11:40.533
AND THAT SENSE WAS
THOSE THREE INGREDIENTS

00:11:40.616 --> 00:11:42.785
PERFECT FOR SOMEBODY
TO WANT TO JOIN GANGS.

00:11:42.868 --> 00:11:44.203
OBVIOUSLY,
A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T,

00:11:44.286 --> 00:11:46.288
BUT SOME OF US DID
FALL INTO THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMED

00:11:46.372 --> 00:11:48.916
LIKE THAT WAS PERFECT
FOR A ROOTLESS,

00:11:48.999 --> 00:11:52.211
FUTURELESS,
AND A POWERLESS PERSON.

00:12:06.058 --> 00:12:08.727
[BELL RINGS]

00:12:11.021 --> 00:12:13.441
Man:
SO HOW ARE YOU?

00:12:13.524 --> 00:12:15.401
I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.
HOW ARE YOU?

00:12:15.484 --> 00:12:16.819
PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH?

00:12:16.902 --> 00:12:18.487
SIT UP REAL
STRAIGHT FOR ME.

00:12:18.571 --> 00:12:20.239
PUT YOUR BACK
ON THE CHAIR.

00:12:20.322 --> 00:12:23.409
HERE WE GO.

00:12:23.492 --> 00:12:26.704
Gustavo: I CAME TO THE U.S.
WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD.

00:12:26.787 --> 00:12:30.624
ON A MONDAY, MY MOM JUST
PICKED US UP FROM SCHOOL,

00:12:30.708 --> 00:12:34.503
AND SHE SAID,
"WE'RE LEAVING TOMORROW."

00:12:34.587 --> 00:12:36.922
WE ACTUALLY GOT TO OUR JOURNEY

00:12:37.006 --> 00:12:39.592
OF, LIKE, WALKING
THROUGH DESERT.

00:12:39.675 --> 00:12:43.220
WE WALKED THROUGH DESERT
FOR THREE DAYS,

00:12:43.304 --> 00:12:48.225
AND ON THE VERY FIRST DAY,
MY MOM COLLAPSED.

00:12:48.767 --> 00:12:50.394
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HEAR
OF PEOPLE

00:12:50.478 --> 00:12:54.148
BEING FOUND IN THE DESERT DEAD
OR, YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT,

00:12:54.231 --> 00:12:56.233
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE COULD
HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEM.

00:12:56.317 --> 00:12:59.987
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE PEOPLE
WITH US THAT WERE WILLING

00:13:00.070 --> 00:13:02.490
TO GIVE UP SOME OF THEIR WATER
FOR MY MOM

00:13:02.573 --> 00:13:05.659
SO THAT SHE COULD KEEP WALKING.

00:13:10.456 --> 00:13:14.752
[TELEVISION PLAYING
IN BACKGROUND]

00:13:19.590 --> 00:13:26.555
WHEN I CAME TO GRIFFIN,
I ENROLLED IN FIFTH GRADE.

00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:28.766
THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
WAS HUGE BACK THEN

00:13:28.849 --> 00:13:30.309
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH

00:13:30.392 --> 00:13:34.730
AND NEITHER DID MY SISTER AND
MY PARENTS SPOKE VERY LITTLE.

00:13:34.813 --> 00:13:37.858
EVERY WEEK, WE WOULD GET
10 WORDS TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL,

00:13:37.942 --> 00:13:41.445
AND THEN WE'D HAVE
A SPELLING TEST ON FRIDAY.

00:13:41.529 --> 00:13:42.863
YOU KNOW, I STUDIED THEM.

00:13:42.947 --> 00:13:45.074
I, LIKE, WROTE THEM
IN A PIECE OF PAPER,

00:13:45.157 --> 00:13:46.909
AND I WAS LIKE,
"I NEED MORE WORDS."

00:13:46.992 --> 00:13:49.203
[SPEAKS SPANISH]

00:13:49.286 --> 00:13:51.080
Gustavo: MY FIRST SENTENCE
TO THE TEACHER,

00:13:51.163 --> 00:13:54.583
VERY FIRST SENTENCE THAT I SAID
IN, LIKE, FULL ENGLISH,

00:13:54.667 --> 00:13:57.419
I SAID, "MORE WORDS, PLEASE."

00:13:57.503 --> 00:13:59.797
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:14:01.507 --> 00:14:04.843
Gustavo: MY PARENTS
SET THESE STANDARDS.

00:14:04.927 --> 00:14:08.514
ACADEMICS, IT WAS MY MAIN JOB
AT THE TIME.

00:14:08.597 --> 00:14:12.518
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING
I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT.

00:14:12.601 --> 00:14:15.271
MY PARENTS WORRIED
ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE

00:14:15.354 --> 00:14:16.897
AND KEEPING A ROOF OVER MY HEAD,

00:14:16.981 --> 00:14:19.942
AND I HAD TO WORRY
ABOUT MAKING GOOD GRADES.

00:14:27.324 --> 00:14:28.701
GUSTAVO...
YEAH?

00:14:28.784 --> 00:14:31.787
WHAT'S UP, MAN?
LOOKING GOOD.

00:14:31.870 --> 00:14:34.957
[INDISTINCT]

00:14:35.040 --> 00:14:36.292
HA HA HA!

00:14:36.375 --> 00:14:38.419
Man: WE FIRST MET
IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

00:14:38.502 --> 00:14:39.878
GUSTAVO WAS A REALLY
GOOD STUDENT.

00:14:39.962 --> 00:14:41.505
HE PROBABLY STUDIED
MORE THAN I DID.

00:14:41.589 --> 00:14:44.341
LIKE, HE WAS
A REALLY GOOD STUDENT.

00:14:44.425 --> 00:14:46.635
WHEN HE FIRST TOLD ME
HE WAS UNDOCUMENTED,

00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:49.221
I BELIEVE IT WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST TIMES

00:14:49.305 --> 00:14:51.056
WE EVER GOT TO HANG OUT
OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:53.350
AND I CAME OVER TO HIS HOUSE
TO WATCH MOVIES.

00:14:53.434 --> 00:14:55.019
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I MET HIS FAMILY.

00:14:55.102 --> 00:14:58.480
HE WAS JUST TELLING ME
ABOUT HOW HE CAME TO AMERICA.

00:14:58.564 --> 00:15:02.026
SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT HE
WAS HERE UNDOCUMENTED.

00:15:02.109 --> 00:15:06.238
Gustavo: I HAD ALL THESE FRIENDS
GOING TO EITHER GEORGIA STATE

00:15:06.322 --> 00:15:11.994
OR GORDON COLLEGE OR KENNESAW,
WHICH WAS WHERE I WANTED TO GO,

00:15:12.077 --> 00:15:14.622
AND SO I STARTED ASKING
MY COUNSELOR, LIKE,

00:15:14.705 --> 00:15:16.540
"I DON'T HAVE THIS.
I DON'T HAVE A VISA.

00:15:16.624 --> 00:15:20.210
I DON'T HAVE A SOCIAL.
WHAT CAN I DO?"

00:15:22.129 --> 00:15:27.051
THE ONLY PLACE THAT SHE KNEW
TO SORT OF SEND ME WAS THE ARMY.

00:15:27.134 --> 00:15:32.181
THEY ENDED UP SAYING
THAT THERE WAS NO CHANCE,

00:15:32.264 --> 00:15:34.016
AND SO I WAS KIND OF LOST.

00:15:34.099 --> 00:15:36.477
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO, EITHER.

00:15:37.686 --> 00:15:40.939
SCHOOTHAT I COULDN'T IMAGINE
DOING ANYTHING ELSE.

00:15:46.654 --> 00:15:47.988
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL,

00:15:48.072 --> 00:15:49.657
I NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT DROPPING OUT.

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.867
I KNEW FROM THE GET-GO
THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION.

00:15:51.950 --> 00:15:55.788
MY MOM ALWAYS PUSHED US
TO PURSUE AN EDUCATION,

00:15:55.871 --> 00:15:59.416
BUT I DID FEEL DEPRESSED,
AND I DID FEEL ALONE,

00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:01.085
AND I DID FEEL REALLY FRUSTRATED

00:16:01.168 --> 00:16:04.254
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW I WAS GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

00:16:04.338 --> 00:16:05.964
I HAD ALL THESE
GOOD GRADES, RIGHT,

00:16:06.048 --> 00:16:07.549
AND I WAS INVOLVED
IN MY COMMUNITY

00:16:07.633 --> 00:16:08.509
SINCE I WAS, LIKE, 15 OR 16,

00:16:09.760 --> 00:16:12.554
AND TO HAVE ALL THIS WORK
THROWN BACK IN YOUR FACE,

00:16:12.638 --> 00:16:14.306
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

00:16:14.390 --> 00:16:17.434
MY SENIOR YEAR,
I WAS PRESIDENT OF A CLUB,

00:16:17.518 --> 00:16:20.187
AND SO I HAVE ALL THESE
RESPONSIBILITIES IN SCHOOL,

00:16:20.270 --> 00:16:21.522
BUT THEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,

00:16:21.605 --> 00:16:22.815
I'M, LIKE, CRYING MYSELF
TO SLEEP,

00:16:22.898 --> 00:16:26.568
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING
TO PAY FOR COLLEGE.

00:16:26.652 --> 00:16:27.820
I ALWAYS KNEW.

00:16:27.903 --> 00:16:29.905
I ALWAYS KNEW
THAT I WAS UNDOCUMENTED.

00:16:29.988 --> 00:16:32.408
MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME,
"NO TENEMOS PAPELES,"

00:16:32.491 --> 00:16:33.701
"WE DON'T HAVE PAPERS,"

00:16:33.784 --> 00:16:36.078
AND I SAW HER WORK
ALL THESE DIFFERENT JOBS,

00:16:36.161 --> 00:16:38.997
FROM CONSTRUCTION WORK
TO BARTENDING,

00:16:39.081 --> 00:16:42.543
BUT IT IMPACTED ME
WHEN I GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

00:16:42.626 --> 00:16:46.588
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED
THAT I WAS THE SAME AS HER

00:16:46.672 --> 00:16:49.842
AND THAT I WAS DIFFERENT FROM
MY FRIENDS BECAUSE I FIGURED,

00:16:49.925 --> 00:16:52.720
"I'M BEING RAISED HERE.
I'M LEARNING THE LANGUAGE.

00:16:52.803 --> 00:16:53.929
"I'M GOING TO SCHOOL HERE.

00:16:54.012 --> 00:16:55.764
THINGS ARE GOING TO BE
DIFFERENT FOR ME,"

00:16:55.848 --> 00:16:58.267
BUT THEY WEREN'T.

00:17:10.821 --> 00:17:13.615
Woman: HIGHER THE CURVE
MEANS THEY'RE GOING HIGHER UP

00:17:13.699 --> 00:17:16.827
BECAUSE THESE "Y" VALUES ARE
BIGGER THAN THESE "Y" VALUES.

00:17:16.910 --> 00:17:21.623
IF YOU MIXED THESE UP,
YOUR ANSWER WOULD BE NEGATIVE.

00:17:22.541 --> 00:17:25.878
[JUAN SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:17:30.090 --> 00:17:35.012
Juan: WHEN I ARRIVED
TO LAWRENCE, I WAS 11 YEARS OLD.

00:17:35.095 --> 00:17:38.974
MY MOM, SHE WAS SAD.

00:17:39.057 --> 00:17:41.185
AN ENTIRE LIFE,
AN ENTIRE EDUCATION,

00:17:41.268 --> 00:17:43.896
LIKE, HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER
IS OVER THERE,

00:17:43.979 --> 00:17:45.481
AND COMING HERE,
SHE WAS KIND OF,

00:17:45.564 --> 00:17:46.482
"I'M HERE BECAUSE OF YOU.

00:17:46.565 --> 00:17:48.233
"I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY

00:17:48.317 --> 00:17:50.360
THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE
IN OUR COUNTRY."

00:17:50.444 --> 00:17:54.072
[WOMAN SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:18:25.771 --> 00:18:29.525
Juan: I DIDN'T KNOW ENGLISH,
BUT I WAS ALWAYS KIND OF SAD

00:18:29.608 --> 00:18:31.151
BECAUSE I DIDN'T
KNOW THE LANGUAGE.

00:18:31.235 --> 00:18:33.445
HAVING A TEACHER IN FRONT OF ME
TALKING TO ME,

00:18:33.529 --> 00:18:36.865
WELL, I'M LIKE,
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU,"

00:18:36.949 --> 00:18:38.742
LIKE, "I CANNOT
COMMUNICATE WITH YOU,"

00:18:38.826 --> 00:18:39.785
EVEN THOUGH I WANTED TO.

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:43.455
I THOUGHT I WAS NEVER GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH,

00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:45.874
WRITE ENGLISH,
BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

00:18:45.958 --> 00:18:47.960
"G" AT "X"
MINUS "F" AT "X,"

00:18:48.043 --> 00:18:50.712
WHAT WOULD BE THE
DIFFERENCE IN MY ANSWER?

00:18:50.796 --> 00:18:52.172
Juan: IT WOULD
BE NEGATIVE?

00:18:52.256 --> 00:18:54.800
IT WOULD BE NEGATIVE.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

00:18:54.883 --> 00:18:58.095
JUAN, NICE JOB.

00:19:00.472 --> 00:19:05.477
Juan: COMING OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL,
IT WAS HARD.

00:19:05.561 --> 00:19:08.647
IT WAS MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

00:19:12.985 --> 00:19:14.778
I HAWE WOULD SHARE EVERYTHING
WITH MY EX-BTOGETHER.D.

00:19:14.862 --> 00:19:17.573
SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON--
LIKE, THE ONLY PERSON--

00:19:17.656 --> 00:19:19.074
THAT KNEW THAT I WAS GAY.

00:19:19.157 --> 00:19:21.034
SHE GOT MAD ONE DAY
AND JUST STARTED YELLING,

00:19:21.118 --> 00:19:25.414
SAYING THAT I'M GAY, THAT
I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M HIDING,

00:19:25.497 --> 00:19:27.749
MAKING ME FEEL BAD.

00:19:29.376 --> 00:19:34.590
SINCE THAT MOMENT, THEY KIND OF,
LIKE, BULLIED ME IN SCHOOL.

00:19:34.673 --> 00:19:36.466
THEY STARTED CALLING ME NAMES.

00:19:36.550 --> 00:19:38.719
"OH, WHY ARE YOU GAY?
"OH, LOOK. HE'S GAY.

00:19:38.802 --> 00:19:40.971
DON'T TOUCH ME.
DON'T TALK TO ME,"

00:19:41.054 --> 00:19:43.724
LIKE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

00:19:43.807 --> 00:19:46.059
IT WAS JUST A MOMENT IN LIFE

00:19:46.143 --> 00:19:48.645
WHERE I THOUGHT
I DIDN'T HAVE FRIENDS.

00:19:48.729 --> 00:19:50.272
I DIDN'T HAVE NO ONE
TO SUPPORT ME

00:19:50.355 --> 00:19:52.274
BECAUSE MY FAMILY DIDN'T KNOW.

00:19:52.357 --> 00:19:56.320
I CAME HERE THINKING I WAS GOING
TO HAVE THAT FREEDOM,

00:19:56.403 --> 00:19:58.447
THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS,

00:19:58.530 --> 00:20:00.449
AND KNOWING THAT IN SCHOOL,
I WAS BEING BULLIED,

00:20:00.532 --> 00:20:02.451
I THOUGHT,
"THEY DON'T WANT ME HERE.

00:20:02.534 --> 00:20:04.453
MAYBE I SHOULD LEAVE."

00:20:04.536 --> 00:20:07.456
THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON.
SOMETIMES I COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:10.459
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO DROP OUT.

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:21.637
BECAUSE OF WHAT I KNEW INSIDE,
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I DIDN'T--

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:26.350
LIKE THERE WAS ALWAYS THIS SORT
OF SPHERE AROUND ME.

00:20:26.433 --> 00:20:28.143
JUST FLOATED THROUGH
HIGH SCHOOL, ACTUALLY.

00:20:28.226 --> 00:20:32.648
YOU KNOW, LIKE, THERE WAS NO WAY
OF CONNECTING TO ANYBODY.

00:20:32.731 --> 00:20:34.650
I PRETENDED TO BE
A COMPLETELY STRAIGHT MAN,

00:20:34.733 --> 00:20:39.029
AND I THINK I KNEW I WAS GAY
WHEN I WAS, LIKE, IN THE WOMB.

00:20:39.112 --> 00:20:41.281
IT JUST WAS NOT IN THE REALM
OF POSSIBILITY.

00:20:41.365 --> 00:20:47.454
THERE WAS JUST NO SENSE
OF, LIKE, COMING OUT.

00:20:47.537 --> 00:20:50.374
I REALLY DIDN'T CONNECT
WITH WRITING

00:20:50.457 --> 00:20:53.919
OR ANY OUTLET TILL I WAS
REALLY MUCH OLDER.

00:20:54.002 --> 00:20:57.673
THERE WAS THE FEAR
OF BEING OUTED

00:20:57.756 --> 00:21:00.717
IF I DID SOMETHING TOO GAY.

00:21:00.801 --> 00:21:02.970
WHAT WAS THAT GOING TO DO,

00:21:03.053 --> 00:21:05.347
YOU KNOW, IF I GOT A LITTLE
TOO MUCH INTO WRITING

00:21:05.430 --> 00:21:07.766
OR A LITTLE TOO MUCH
INTO ART CLASS?

00:21:07.849 --> 00:21:09.476
I WAS SCARED.

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.937
I DIDN'T GET MY FULL EXPERIENCE
OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,

00:21:12.020 --> 00:21:14.564
AND I FEEL SOMETIMES
CHEATED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

00:21:14.648 --> 00:21:19.194
I HAD THAT SENSE
OF JUST WANTING TO DISAPPEAR.

00:21:39.047 --> 00:21:41.174
Eduardo:
I USED TO ALWAYS HANG OUT

00:21:41.258 --> 00:21:42.718
AT THE YMCA WITH MY FRIENDS.

00:21:42.801 --> 00:21:46.972
THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY
HANGS OUT, ALL THE CHOLOS.

00:21:47.055 --> 00:21:49.975
SOME WHITE GUY CAME UP TO ME,
AND THEY'RE LIKE, "HI!

00:21:50.058 --> 00:21:52.436
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER YANOV!
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"

00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:55.856
THERE WAS THIS KID,
MAYBE 13, 14 YEARS OLD;

00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:58.608
BALD HEAD;
CREASED, WHITE T-SHIRT;

00:21:58.692 --> 00:22:00.902
AND THE TYPE OF SHOES
THAT GANG MEMBERS

00:22:00.986 --> 00:22:02.696
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
ARE ALWAYS WEARING.

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:05.741
Eduardo: I WASN'T USE TO HAVING
PEOPLE COME UP TO ME.

00:22:05.824 --> 00:22:08.493
MOST PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF ME.

00:22:08.577 --> 00:22:12.164
SO I GO UP TO HIM NOT KNOWING
WHAT HIS RESPONSE WOULD BE,

00:22:12.247 --> 00:22:14.416
BUT KNOWING THAT WE WERE
IN A SAFE PUBLIC PLACE,

00:22:14.499 --> 00:22:16.918
THAT HE WOULDN'T TRY
ANYTHING DUMB, OF COURSE.

00:22:17.002 --> 00:22:18.336
OH, YOU'RE STILL
DRESSED UP?

00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:20.797
Eduardo: HE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT HOW HIS PROGRAM

00:22:20.881 --> 00:22:22.841
CAN HELP KIDS GET INTO COLLEGE
AND ALL THIS,

00:22:22.924 --> 00:22:25.844
SCHOLARSHIPS AND MONEY,
AND THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

00:22:25.927 --> 00:22:29.848
NOT ONLY EXTENDED MY HAND IN
THE FORM OF A HANDSHAKE TO HIM,

00:22:29.931 --> 00:22:33.477
BUT ALSO EXTENDED AN OFFER
TO BE THE NEWEST MEMBER

00:22:34.728 --> 00:22:38.648
THAT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF
EDUARDO'S PARTNERSHIP, REALLY,

00:22:38.732 --> 00:22:40.525
WITH REALITY CHANGERS,
FIRST AS A STUDENT

00:22:40.609 --> 00:22:44.196
AND NOW AS AN EMPLOYEE
GIVING BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

00:22:47.074 --> 00:22:50.118
Yanov: YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR
SOME GREAT INCREASES IN A SECOND

00:22:50.202 --> 00:22:52.412
THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY
THE 3.0 THAT WE EXPECT

00:22:52.496 --> 00:22:54.956
ONCE THEY ARE HERE, BUT
THEY SURE HAVE GOTTEN THEM UP

00:22:55.040 --> 00:22:56.917
REALLY HIGH
IN JUST A WEEK'S TIME.

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.543
SO WHEN YOU HEAR
THEIR IMPROVEMENT,

00:22:58.627 --> 00:23:00.796
MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHEER
REALLY LOUD...

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:02.089
[CHEERING]

00:23:02.172 --> 00:23:04.091
AND WHEN THEY SAY
SOMETHING FUNNY

00:23:04.174 --> 00:23:07.385
OR DO SOMETHING FUNNY,
YOU LAUGH LIKE THIS.

00:23:07.469 --> 00:23:10.305
[FAKE LAUGHTER]

00:23:10.388 --> 00:23:13.225
[GENUINE LAUGHTER]

00:23:15.394 --> 00:23:18.438
REALITY CHANGERS
NEWEST EIGHTH GRADERS,

00:23:18.522 --> 00:23:22.192
HERE THEY COME
BEHIND THE BANNER.

00:23:22.275 --> 00:23:24.111
YOU KNOW, COLLEGE
WAS JUST A WORD.

00:23:24.194 --> 00:23:26.154
IT WASN'T, LIKE, REALLY
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.

00:23:26.238 --> 00:23:29.783
I THOUGHT COLLEGE, YOU KNOW,
"NOT EVEN GOING TO GET THERE."

00:23:29.866 --> 00:23:30.992
I'LL DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,"

00:23:31.076 --> 00:23:32.661
BUT NOW THAT I'M
IN REALITY CHANGERS,

00:23:32.744 --> 00:23:34.663
I'M WEARING THIS SHIRT
RIGHT NOW,

00:23:34.746 --> 00:23:37.999
IT'S JUST CHANGED
MY WHOLE LIFE, AND--YEAH.

00:23:38.083 --> 00:23:39.501
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]

00:23:39.584 --> 00:23:41.878
Eduardo: THE ONES CONSTANTLY
ALWAYS GETTING IN TROUBLE,

00:23:41.962 --> 00:23:45.173
GETTING KICKED OUT OF CLASS, AND
NOT TURNING IN THEIR HOMEWORK,

00:23:45.257 --> 00:23:46.508
WE WANT THOSE STUDENTS.

00:23:46.591 --> 00:23:48.135
WE WANT TO HELP OUT
THOSE STUDENTS.

00:23:48.218 --> 00:23:51.680
WE TELL THEM HOW TO BE
A BETTER PUBLIC SPEAKER,

00:23:51.763 --> 00:23:54.307
HOW TO BE A LEADER,
AND WE MAKE SURE

00:23:54.391 --> 00:23:57.561
THEY GET GOOD GRADES UNTIL
ALL THE WAY TO SENIOR YEAR.

00:23:57.644 --> 00:24:02.023
SO WE ARE PREPARING THE STUDENT
TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE.

00:24:07.737 --> 00:24:11.449
Yanov: EDUARDO'S FIRST DAY
AT REALITY CHANGERS,

00:24:11.533 --> 00:24:16.371
IT TOOK ME OVER AN ENTIRE ROLL
OF FILM TO GET EDUARDO

00:24:16.454 --> 00:24:19.749
TO SMILE ONCE
FOR HIS FIRST I.D. PICTURE.

00:24:19.833 --> 00:24:22.169
HE JUST WASN'T USED TO SMILING.

00:24:22.252 --> 00:24:24.212
FINALLY,
I GOT THIS PICTURE OF HIM

00:24:24.296 --> 00:24:26.006
WITH A REAL AWKWARD SMILE,
BUT IT WAS THE ONLY ONE

00:24:26.089 --> 00:24:28.633
THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET,
SO WE USED IT.

00:24:28.717 --> 00:24:31.178
THAT WAS HIS FRESHMAN YEAR
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

00:24:31.261 --> 00:24:33.221
Eduardo: I ENDED UP
JOINING THE PROGRAM.

00:24:33.305 --> 00:24:35.182
THEY WERE ALWAYS HELPING ME
WITH MY HOMEWORK.

00:24:35.265 --> 00:24:38.351
I STARTED GETTING GOOD GRADES,
BUT I WAS STILL PLAYING TOUGH

00:24:38.435 --> 00:24:41.813
FOR MY FRIENDS
OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM.

00:24:41.897 --> 00:24:45.567
IT WAS JUST ME AND
TWO OTHER FRIENDS DRINKING,

00:24:45.650 --> 00:24:47.319
AND WE WENT INSIDE THE SCHOOL,

00:24:47.402 --> 00:24:49.070
AND WE JUST STARTED
TO JUST TAG IT UP,

00:24:49.154 --> 00:24:52.741
TAKING THE LAPTOPS,
VALUABLE THINGS.

00:24:52.824 --> 00:24:56.870
HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD BEEN
ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND

00:24:56.953 --> 00:25:01.208
AND HAD SPENT A FEW DAYS
IN JUVENILE HALL.

00:25:01.917 --> 00:25:04.836
HE WAS FACING A COUPLE OF FELONY
COUNTS AND A MISDEMEANOR

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:07.714
THAT ADDED UP TO A POTENTIAL
SIX-YEAR SENTENCE

00:25:07.797 --> 00:25:10.258
IN A JUVENILE
DETENTION FACILITY.

00:25:10.342 --> 00:25:13.094
Eduardo: THAT WAS THE WORSE
SITUATION I WAS INTO.

00:25:13.178 --> 00:25:17.224
I WAS FACING SIX YEARS
BECAUSE OF THAT.

00:25:41.873 --> 00:25:43.124
HA HA HA!

00:25:43.208 --> 00:25:46.127
Gustavo: MY EXPERIENCE WITH
THINKING ABOUT DROPPING OUT,

00:25:46.211 --> 00:25:48.797
IT WAS MY PARENTS
AND MY FRIENDS TELLING ME,

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.799
"NO. YOU CAN'T DROP OUT.

00:25:50.882 --> 00:25:52.801
"EVEN IF YOU CAN'T GO PAST THIS,

00:25:52.884 --> 00:25:56.054
YOU AT LEAST HAVE
TO FINISH THIS."

00:25:56.137 --> 00:25:57.764
MY MOM, I THINK SHE WENT UP

00:25:57.847 --> 00:26:00.892
TO THE THIRD GRADE
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,

00:26:00.976 --> 00:26:05.939
AND MY DAD, I'M NOT SURE
IF HE DIDN'T GO AT ALL.

00:26:06.022 --> 00:26:09.067
I WAS THE FIRST OF MY FAMILY

00:26:09.150 --> 00:26:12.529
THAT GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL
HERE IN THE U.S.

00:26:14.072 --> 00:26:17.659
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL,
I STARTED WORKING FULL-TIME.

00:26:17.742 --> 00:26:20.287
I WORKED AROUND
80 TO 90 HOURS A WEEK,

00:26:20.370 --> 00:26:24.874
BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT, LIKE,
I KIND OF LIVE FOR SCHOOL.

00:26:24.958 --> 00:26:27.085
SO WHAT I STARTED DOING
WAS ONLINE SEARCHES

00:26:27.168 --> 00:26:28.545
ABOUT HOW TO GET
BACK INTO SCHOOL.

00:26:28.628 --> 00:26:33.341
I TYPED IN "ILLEGAL STUDENTS,"
AND THE FIRST THING THAT CAME UP

00:26:33.425 --> 00:26:37.137
WAS AN ARTICLE
ABOUT THE DREAM ACT...

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:40.473
AND I THOUGHT, "OK.
LIKE, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE,"

00:26:40.557 --> 00:26:43.393
BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT
I WAS THE ONLY ONE, RIGHT?

00:26:43.476 --> 00:26:44.978
I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY
ILLEGAL STUDENT.

00:26:45.061 --> 00:26:46.396
I THOUGHT THAT I WAS
THE ONLY ONE

00:26:46.479 --> 00:26:49.190
THAT DIDN'T HAVE
A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

00:26:49.274 --> 00:26:50.275
Woman: UNDOCUMENTED!

00:26:50.358 --> 00:26:51.568
Crowd: UNAFRAID!

00:26:51.651 --> 00:26:52.861
UNDOCUMENTED!

00:26:52.944 --> 00:26:53.945
UNAFRAID!

00:26:54.029 --> 00:26:55.488
UNDOCUMENTED!

00:26:55.572 --> 00:26:56.072
UNAFRAID!

00:26:56.990 --> 00:26:57.574
Gustavo: THE DREAM ACT
WOULD ALLOW

00:27:00.076 --> 00:27:04.039
ON A PATH TO LEGALIZATIONTUDENTS
IF THEY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

00:27:04.122 --> 00:27:08.752
TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE OR SERVE
TWO YEARS IN THE MILITARY.

00:27:09.586 --> 00:27:13.381
THE FIGHT FOR THE DREAM ACT
HAD BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2001,

00:27:13.465 --> 00:27:15.717
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL LATE 2008

00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:18.053
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY
STARTED ORGANIZING

00:27:18.136 --> 00:27:19.387
AS UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.

00:27:19.471 --> 00:27:20.263
EDUCATION SHOULD BE ABOUT MERIT.

00:27:21.306 --> 00:27:22.432
IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT
UNDOCUMENTED STATUS

00:27:23.475 --> 00:27:24.601
IT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY
OR SOCABOUT MERIT.TATUS.

00:27:24.684 --> 00:27:27.437
AT THE TIME, MY FUTURE
WAS THE DREAM ACT.

00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:30.398
MY PLANS FOR RETURNING
TO SCHOOL,

00:27:30.482 --> 00:27:32.942
THEY WERE ALL RIDING
ON THE DREAM ACT.

00:27:33.026 --> 00:27:35.278
SO ALL I KNEW WAS,
I NEED TO WORK

00:27:35.362 --> 00:27:38.740
AND DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO
OR WHATEVER I CAN DO

00:27:38.823 --> 00:27:41.076
TO HELP PASS THIS THING.

00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:43.578
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:27:43.661 --> 00:27:45.747
HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS GUSTAVO.

00:27:45.830 --> 00:27:48.833
I AM UNDOCUMENTED,
AND I AM UNAFRAID.

00:27:48.917 --> 00:27:51.753
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:27:51.836 --> 00:27:52.587
I CAME HERE--

00:27:55.006 --> 00:27:58.134
I WAS BROUGHT HERE TO THIS
MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED MENINE M,

00:27:58.218 --> 00:28:00.595
WHAT BROUGHT MY FAMILY
TO THIS COUNTRY,

00:28:00.678 --> 00:28:02.764
AND THE ANSWER
HAS ALWAYS BEEN SIMPLE,

00:28:02.847 --> 00:28:05.392
AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
THE SAME--POVERTY,

00:28:05.475 --> 00:28:08.645
POVERTY MEANING THAT MY PARENTS
HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE,

00:28:08.728 --> 00:28:10.563
A LIFE-OR-DEATH CHOICE.

00:28:10.647 --> 00:28:12.440
FOR MY MOM AND MY DAD,
MUCHAS GRACIAS

00:28:12.524 --> 00:28:15.068
Y LOS QUEIRO MUCHO POR TODO
LO QUE HAN HECHO POR ME.

00:28:15.151 --> 00:28:17.362
Gustavo: IT JUST FELT
REALLY GOOD TO BE PART OF THIS.

00:28:17.445 --> 00:28:22.242
YOU KNOW, I FELT ENERGIZED.
I FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOME HOPE.

00:28:22.742 --> 00:28:26.329
IN 2010, THERE WAS A HUGE PUSH
AT THE END

00:28:26.413 --> 00:28:28.957
WHERE WE ACTUALLY GOT IT
THROUGH THE HOUSE,

00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:32.293
BUT FIVE DEMOCRATS KILLED IT
IN THE SENATE,

00:28:32.377 --> 00:28:37.215
AND THERE WAS NO SUCH THING
AS, LIKE, MY FUTURE, RIGHT?

00:28:57.485 --> 00:28:58.945
SO ONE, TWO,
THREE, FOUR.

00:28:59.028 --> 00:29:03.575
TURN, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE, BOOM.

00:29:07.162 --> 00:29:09.873
JuanSO THEY GIVE IMPORTANCETH
PERFOTO BOTH OF THEM.CADEMICS,

00:29:09.956 --> 00:29:13.042
BOOM, AH, BOOM,
AH, BOOM.

00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:14.878
TURN.

00:29:16.379 --> 00:29:18.548
Juan: DANCE DEFINITELY HELPED ME
OVERCOME ALL THOSE SAD MOMENTS.

00:29:18.631 --> 00:29:22.177
YOU CAN JUST LIVE FREE
IN THE DANCE STUDIO.

00:29:22.260 --> 00:29:26.389
Woman: NOW SEE HOW WE GO
A LITTLE BIT SLOWER?

00:29:27.098 --> 00:29:29.392
Juan: AT THE BEGINNINGS,
I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT

00:29:29.476 --> 00:29:31.895
BECAUSE I THOUGHT
IT WAS A GIRLY THING

00:29:31.978 --> 00:29:33.938
AND I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO BULLY ME MORE

00:29:34.022 --> 00:29:37.817
IF I ENJOYED DANCE,
BUT I FOUND IN DANCE,

00:29:37.901 --> 00:29:41.404
LIKE, THAT DOOR
OF EXPRESSING MYSELF

00:29:41.488 --> 00:29:44.657
AND TELLING PEOPLE
THE WAY I WAS FEELING.

00:29:50.955 --> 00:29:53.416
Woman: ONE OF THE RULES
THAT THEY HAVE

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:55.335
IS THAT THEY ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO PERFORM

00:29:55.418 --> 00:29:57.754
IF THEIR GRADES ARE NOT
WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

00:29:57.837 --> 00:30:01.883
SO YOU SEE THEM TRYING
TO MAINTAIN THOSE GRADES,

00:30:01.966 --> 00:30:04.219
ACTUALLY USE THEIR TIME WISELY

00:30:04.302 --> 00:30:08.056
SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DANCE.

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:10.808
JUAN CHOSE TO CREATE
A CHOREOGRAPHY

00:30:10.892 --> 00:30:13.394
OF ACTUALLY COMING
OUT OF THE CLOSET

00:30:13.478 --> 00:30:16.564
AND HOW HE VIEWED HIMSELF.

00:30:16.648 --> 00:30:19.150
[PIANO PLAYING]

00:30:28.493 --> 00:30:33.456
Juan: I CAME OUT FIRST
TO ALL THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.

00:30:34.332 --> 00:30:38.795
MY MOM HAD NO CLUE
THAT I WAS GAY.

00:30:40.463 --> 00:30:44.717
EVERYBODY KNEW EXCEPT MY MOTHER,
THROUGHOEXCEPT MY FAMILY.AR,

00:30:53.518 --> 00:30:58.064
[ANA SPEAKS SPANISH]

00:30:58.565 --> 00:31:00.900
Juan: MY MOM, SHE'S CHRISTIAN,

00:31:00.984 --> 00:31:05.029
AND IT'S A REALLY
STRICT RELIGION.

00:31:07.407 --> 00:31:12.161
LIKE I'M AGAINST SOME BELIEFS
BETHAT THEY HAVE.EL

00:31:12.537 --> 00:31:14.497
I DID GO TO CHURCH
WITH HER TWICE,

00:31:14.581 --> 00:31:17.625
AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT
BECAUSE THAT SAME DAY,

00:31:17.709 --> 00:31:19.794
THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

00:31:19.877 --> 00:31:21.629
AND HOW IT WAS WRONG.

00:31:22.964 --> 00:31:27.594
[ANA SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:31:46.195 --> 00:31:49.282
Juan: SHE ASKED ME,
"IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?

00:31:49.365 --> 00:31:50.617
"WHY YOU DON'T HAVE
A GIRLFRIEND?

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:52.660
WHY DON'T YOU LIKE THIS
ABOUT GIRLS?"

00:31:52.744 --> 00:31:53.703
SO SHE KIND OF GAVE ME AN OUT.

00:31:53.786 --> 00:31:55.830
"OH, YEAH. I KNOW.
JUST TELL ME."

00:31:55.913 --> 00:31:58.708
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:32:05.173 --> 00:32:05.757
SÍ.

00:32:06.674 --> 00:32:09.636
[MAN SPEAKING SPANISH
ON TELEVISION]

00:32:14.515 --> 00:32:16.684
LIKE EVERY OTHER
IMMIGRANT FAMILY,

00:32:16.768 --> 00:32:19.228
WE CAME HERE TO START
FROM SCRATCH,

00:32:19.312 --> 00:32:21.939
AND I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

00:32:22.023 --> 00:32:25.276
AT THE TIME, I DID
GO THROUGH THAT PERIOD

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:27.195
WHERE, YOU KNOW,
I DEALT WITH THE BULLIES.

00:32:27.278 --> 00:32:32.033
I DEALT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAD
THE REALLY MEAN RACIAL COMMENTS.

00:32:32.116 --> 00:32:33.743
IF YOU HAD
A REALLY STRONG ACCENT,

00:32:33.826 --> 00:32:35.536
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU WERE STUPID.

00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:36.329
YOU WERE DUMB.

00:32:37.455 --> 00:32:38.623
YOU WERE SOMEONE INFERIOR
TO EVERY OTHER KID

00:32:38.706 --> 00:32:42.752
THAT KIND OF HAD IT GOING ON
AND ALREADY HAD FRIENDS.

00:32:42.835 --> 00:32:45.672
THEATER HELPED ME FIND A VOICE.

00:32:45.755 --> 00:32:49.133
THE ARTS PROGRAMS REALLY
HELPED ME FIND A SPIRIT

00:32:49.217 --> 00:32:51.386
AND A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE,
YOU KNOW,

00:32:51.469 --> 00:32:53.721
BECAUSE NO MATTER
HOW STRONG MY ACCENT WAS THEN,

00:32:53.805 --> 00:32:55.473
NO MATTER HOW BUTCHERED
MY ENGLISH WAS,

00:32:55.556 --> 00:32:58.559
I WAS STILL GETTING ON STAGE
LIKE ANY OTHER KID

00:32:58.643 --> 00:33:04.565
AND PERFORMING MY ASS OFF,
YOU KNOW, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU,

00:33:04.649 --> 00:33:09.237
THAT'S REALLY
HOW I FOUND MY GROOVE.

00:33:29.173 --> 00:33:33.636
Eduardo: WHEN I GOT ARRESTED,
I WAS FACING SIX YEARS.

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:36.597
THE FIRST THING THAT CAME UP
TO MY MIND WAS, LIKE,

00:33:36.681 --> 00:33:39.934
"HOW AM I GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS
TO MY PARENTS,"

00:33:40.017 --> 00:33:42.437
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

00:33:42.520 --> 00:33:45.815
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO
OR WHO TO TALK TO,

00:33:45.898 --> 00:33:48.443
AND I JUST WENT UP
TO CHRISTOPHER YANOV,

00:33:48.526 --> 00:33:50.820
AND I TOLD HIM
ABOUT MY SITUATION.

00:33:50.903 --> 00:33:52.238
I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING
TO KICK ME OUT,

00:33:52.321 --> 00:33:54.198
HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE ME
OR ANYTHING,

00:33:54.282 --> 00:33:57.118
BUT HE'S LIKE, "I'LL HELP YOU."

00:33:57.201 --> 00:33:59.287
SO HE TOOK ME AND MY MOM
TO COURT,

00:33:59.370 --> 00:34:02.331
AND AT COURT, HE INTRODUCED
THE PROGRAM TO MY LAWYER,

00:34:02.415 --> 00:34:04.625
AND HE PULLED OUT
ONE OF THE YEARBOOKS.

00:34:04.709 --> 00:34:06.127
HE GAVE IT TO MY LAWYER.

00:34:06.210 --> 00:34:07.795
THE LAWYER GOES
INSIDE THE COURTROOM.

00:34:08.963 --> 00:34:12.300
Yanov: SHE WALKS
INTO THE COURTROOM,COMES BAS
LATER, AND SHE TELLS US,

00:34:12.383 --> 00:34:15.052
"WELL, THE JUDGE WANTS
HIS OWN PERSONAL COPY."

00:34:15.136 --> 00:34:17.430
AND THAT'S WHEN HE TOLD ME,

00:34:17.513 --> 00:34:20.850
"EDUARDO, I'LL GIVE YOU
ONE MONTH TO PROVE TO ME

00:34:20.933 --> 00:34:23.686
"THAT YOU ARE THIS MAN
IN THIS YEARBOOK,

00:34:23.770 --> 00:34:26.981
AND NOT THE KID
THE COPS ARRESTED."

00:34:27.065 --> 00:34:30.651
DURING THIS MONTH,
I WENT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY,

00:34:30.735 --> 00:34:36.199
AND I WENT TO REALITY CHANGERS
TO DO MY HOMEWORK AND STUDY.

00:34:36.282 --> 00:34:39.452
AT REALITY CHANGERS,
WE HAVE TUTORS,

00:34:39.535 --> 00:34:42.997
AND THEY WERE THE ONES
THAT REALLY HELPED ME OUT.

00:34:43.080 --> 00:34:47.794
I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO DOUBLE
MY GPA TO A 3.8.

00:34:47.877 --> 00:34:51.923
IF YOU GET IT AT 3.5
AND ABOVE OVERALL GPA,

00:34:52.006 --> 00:34:53.883
YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO GET
A SCHOLARSHIP

00:34:53.966 --> 00:34:57.762
TO GO TO THIS ACADEMIC
CONNECTION PROGRAM AT UCSD.

00:34:57.845 --> 00:34:59.055
Yanov: AND DO YOU
WANT TO SHOW US

00:34:59.138 --> 00:35:01.808
YOUR PROGRESSION TODAY
OF GOING TO UCSD?

00:35:01.891 --> 00:35:05.144
AS YOU COULD SEE
IN THIS PICTURE,

00:35:05.228 --> 00:35:07.897
I USED TO BE
REALLY BALD,

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.899
AND I WAS
THE ONLY BALD ONE

00:35:09.982 --> 00:35:12.193
IN THE WHOLE UC
ACADEMIC CONNECTION.

00:35:12.276 --> 00:35:13.903
AS SOON AS I GOT THERE,
IT WAS JUST

00:35:13.986 --> 00:35:16.030
THIS WHOLE DIFFERENT,
NEW WORLD FOR ME.

00:35:16.114 --> 00:35:20.034
THESE KIDS WERE NERDS,
AND I WAS THIS CHOLO.

00:35:20.117 --> 00:35:22.370
I WASN'T SUPPOSED
TO BELONG THERE.

00:35:22.453 --> 00:35:24.831
Yanov: BY THE END
OF THAT SUMMER,

00:35:24.914 --> 00:35:26.833
HE HAD WON THE TOP
TWO DESIGN PRIZES

00:35:26.916 --> 00:35:29.710
IN A MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING COURSE.

00:35:29.794 --> 00:35:31.045
I BEAT THE NERDS.

00:35:31.128 --> 00:35:33.881
I BEAT THE KIDS
WITH THEIR CALCULATORS

00:35:33.965 --> 00:35:36.050
AND THEIR FANCY BOOKS.

00:35:36.134 --> 00:35:37.552
THAT WAS MY TURNING POINT.

00:35:37.635 --> 00:35:38.469
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED, LIKE,

00:35:39.762 --> 00:35:41.556
"WOW, I CAN ACTUALLY REALLY
DO SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE."

00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:43.808
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:54.735
Eduardo: NO ONE IN MY FAMILY
HAS EVER GONE TO COLLEGE.

00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:56.696
I'M A FIRST-GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENT.

00:35:56.779 --> 00:36:00.074
MY FIRST MAJOR WAS GOING TO BE
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,

00:36:00.157 --> 00:36:02.410
BUT SINCE I STARTED WORKING
WITH THESE KIDS,

00:36:02.493 --> 00:36:04.412
I'VE FOUND A NEW PASSION FOR IT.

00:36:04.495 --> 00:36:05.454
MAKE SURE
WHEN THEY COME IN,

00:36:06.664 --> 00:36:09.500
YOU GET THE TRANSCRIPTS
AND RECOMMENDATION LETTERS.

00:36:10.543 --> 00:36:11.919
HOW WAS SCHOOL
TODAY, GOOD?

00:36:12.003 --> 00:36:12.753
YEAH.
YEAH?

00:36:12.837 --> 00:36:14.172
ANY MORE GOOD NEWS?

00:36:14.255 --> 00:36:16.132
L.A.
L.A.? CSU L.A.?

00:36:16.215 --> 00:36:18.009
YOU READY FOR
THE SATs, THEN?

00:36:18.092 --> 00:36:19.552
Eduardo:
I LOVE HELPING PEOPLE.

00:36:19.635 --> 00:36:20.970
I LOVE TALKING
TO PEOPLE.

00:36:21.053 --> 00:36:25.266
SO I CHANGED MY MAJOR
TO PSYCHOLOGY.

00:36:26.350 --> 00:36:28.436
THE PEOPLE AROUND ME
WAS THE THING

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:30.813
THAT HELPED ME OUT THE MOST.

00:36:32.315 --> 00:36:38.195
BUT THEY ALL HAD ONE GOAL, AND
THAT GOAL WAS TO GO TO COLLEGE.

00:36:42.158 --> 00:36:44.535
SO REMEMBER,
BRING YOUR S.A.T. TICKET.

00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:46.996
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
YOUR CALCULATOR.

00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:48.664
EAT BREAKFAST.

00:36:48.748 --> 00:36:50.666
Eduardo: I LOVE ACTUALLY
SHARING MY STORY

00:36:50.750 --> 00:36:52.376
BECAUSE THAT'S
WHEN I CATCH THEM.

00:36:53.669 --> 00:36:57.006
I CATCH THEIR
ACTUALLY GREW UP LIKE WE DID."RD

00:36:57.089 --> 00:36:59.800
THEY SEE CHRIS, AND HE'S WHITE.

00:36:59.884 --> 00:37:03.179
OF COURSE THEY EXPECT HIM TO GO
OFF TO COLLEGE AND EVERYTHING,

00:37:03.262 --> 00:37:06.390
BUT ONCE THEY SEE ME, YES,
IT DOES MAKE IT DIFFERENT

00:37:06.474 --> 00:37:07.975
BECAUSE THEY FEEL CONNECTED.

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:11.187
THEY FEEL THAT EVERYTHING
IS POSSIBLE.

00:37:11.270 --> 00:37:15.650
HE, LIKE, WENT THROUGH
A LOT MORE STUFF THAN I DID.

00:37:15.733 --> 00:37:19.445
LIKE, HE USED TO BE, LIKE,
IN A GANG, I THINK SO,

00:37:19.528 --> 00:37:23.199
AND THEN HE ALMOST GOT ARRESTED
AND STUFF LIKE THAT,

00:37:23.282 --> 00:37:26.494
AND ME, I'M JUST, LIKE,
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

00:37:26.577 --> 00:37:28.162
SINCE I LEARNED
FROM HIS MISTAKES

00:37:28.245 --> 00:37:33.417
AND MY FAMILY'S MISTAKES,
I TEND NOT TO DO THOSE THINGS.

00:37:39.382 --> 00:37:42.176
YEAH. I SEE MYSELF
GOING TO COLLEGE

00:37:42.259 --> 00:37:45.596
BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM I'M IN

00:37:45.680 --> 00:37:49.350
AND THEN BECAUSE I SAW
LALO DO IT,

00:37:49.433 --> 00:37:52.478
BECAUSE IF HE DID IT,
THEN I COULD DO IT, TOO.

00:37:52.561 --> 00:37:56.399
Eduardo: HE HAS ALL THESE
GOOD INFLUENCES AROUND HIM.

00:37:56.482 --> 00:37:59.193
SO HE'S GOING TO DO
WAY BETTER THAN ME.

00:37:59.277 --> 00:38:01.445
HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO
TO A BETTER COLLEGE

00:38:01.529 --> 00:38:04.740
THAN ME, FOR SURE.

00:38:09.787 --> 00:38:11.539
I WAS A DROPOUT.

00:38:11.622 --> 00:38:13.791
I WAS KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL
BEFORE THAT,

00:38:13.874 --> 00:38:18.004
GOT INTO FIGHTS, AND MY GRADES
WEREN'T DOING WELL.

00:38:18.087 --> 00:38:20.589
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE COUNSELOR
HAD SAID TO ME,

00:38:20.673 --> 00:38:23.217
"YOU LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY
THAT LIKES TO HAVE A GOOD TIME

00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:24.051
"AND YOU LIKE TO HAVE FUN,

00:38:25.428 --> 00:38:27.471
AND SO WE'LL GIVE YOU COURSES
THAT AREN'T TOO CHALLENGING."

00:38:27.555 --> 00:38:32.268
IT WASN'T LONG AFTER THAT
THAT I JUST GOT DISCOURAGED,

00:38:32.351 --> 00:38:34.562
DROPPED OUT,
AND THEN REALIZED

00:38:34.645 --> 00:38:36.731
THAT I NEEDED TO GET BACK.

00:38:36.814 --> 00:38:39.400
I MET A GREAT TEACHER,
HERMAN KATZ,

00:38:39.483 --> 00:38:41.736
WHO DECIDED TO MENTOR ME.

00:38:41.819 --> 00:38:45.614
HE REALLY PUSHED ME
TO GO TO COLLEGE.

00:38:45.698 --> 00:38:49.660
I THINK PART OF WHY
I DID END UP GRADUATING

00:38:49.744 --> 00:38:51.746
AND GOING ON TO COLLEGE
AND THEN LAW SCHOOL

00:38:51.829 --> 00:38:54.457
WAS BECAUSE I LOOKED AT PEOPLE--

00:38:54.540 --> 00:38:56.625
SOME OF WHOM WERE LIKE ME,
OTHERS WHO WEREN'T--

00:38:56.709 --> 00:38:59.170
AND I SAID,
"HEY, WHY CAN'T I DO THAT?"

00:38:59.253 --> 00:39:01.630
AND I THINK THAT'S
THE OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES

00:39:01.714 --> 00:39:03.591
WITH ROLE MODELING
AND MENTORING,

00:39:03.674 --> 00:39:07.928
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO
QUESTION THAT SOME OF THESE KIDS

00:39:08.012 --> 00:39:11.348
WHO DON'T HAVE THAT
REALLY ARE MISSING

00:39:11.432 --> 00:39:14.602
SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT
IN THEIR LIVES.

00:39:22.359 --> 00:39:24.904
[DOG BARKING]

00:39:26.238 --> 00:39:28.282
IT'S PROBABLY
UP THE TREE.

00:39:28.365 --> 00:39:32.244
Gustavo: IN LATE 2010,
THE DREAM ACT WAS DEFEATED,

00:39:32.328 --> 00:39:34.663
BUT THERE WERE A FEW OF US
THAT KEPT GOING

00:39:34.747 --> 00:39:36.290
WITH THE GEORGIA DREAMERS.

00:39:36.373 --> 00:39:38.292
STATE OF GEORGIA
HAS DECIDED TO MAKE ME

00:39:38.375 --> 00:39:40.503
AND MY FELLOW UNDOCUMENTED
BROTHERS AND SISTERS

00:39:40.586 --> 00:39:42.296
AN ENEMY AND A SCAPEGOAT.

00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:43.464
NOW, HOW DID THEY DO THIS?

00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:46.801
WELL, FIRST, THEY BANNED US
FROM THE TOP FIVE UNIVERSITIES

00:39:46.884 --> 00:39:47.802
HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA,

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:51.472
NO MATTER HOW QUALIFIED WE ARE
TO ATTEND THOSE INSTITUTIONS,

00:39:51.555 --> 00:39:51.889
AND THEN...

00:39:53.724 --> 00:39:57.186
COULD NOT BE AT UGA.
Woman: THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM,
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS Y

00:39:57.269 --> 00:39:58.938
IT WAS SUCH A LOSS
FOR THE STATE.

00:39:59.021 --> 00:40:02.817
Woman: ATHENS, GEORGIA, IS HOME
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:05.861
IT'S ALSO HOME TO ANOTHER SCHOOL
WHERE COLLEGE STUDENTS

00:40:05.945 --> 00:40:10.032
HAVE TO STUDY IN SECRET--
IT'S CALLED FREEDOM UNIVERSITY--

00:40:10.116 --> 00:40:12.910
ASPIRING ENGINEERS,
DOCTORS, AND LAWYERS,

00:40:12.993 --> 00:40:16.288
BUT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA,
THEY'RE ACADEMIC OUTCASTS.

00:40:16.372 --> 00:40:19.667
Garcia-Peña: FREEDOM UNIVERSITY
WAS A RESPONSE

00:40:19.750 --> 00:40:23.003
TO THE BAN AGAINST UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS FROM ATTENDING

00:40:23.087 --> 00:40:25.381
THE TOP FIVE
RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

00:40:25.464 --> 00:40:26.340
IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

00:40:26.423 --> 00:40:27.550
SO WHEN WE THINK
OF NATION

00:40:27.633 --> 00:40:29.718
IN THE LEGAL TERM,
WE THINK ABOUT WHAT?

00:40:29.802 --> 00:40:31.345
HOW IT'S DEFINED,
HOW THE U.S. IS DEFINED,

00:40:31.428 --> 00:40:32.304
OR MEXICO, AS A NATION.

00:40:32.388 --> 00:40:33.264
Student:
CONSTITUTION.

00:40:33.347 --> 00:40:34.682
A CONSTITUTION.
WHAT ELSE?

00:40:34.765 --> 00:40:37.810
Garcia-Peña: THE PURPOSE
WAS TO CREATE A SPACE

00:40:37.893 --> 00:40:41.147
WHERE THEY COULD HAVE
THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

00:40:41.230 --> 00:40:42.356
ONE OF THE PROFESSORS
APPROACHED ME,

00:40:42.439 --> 00:40:44.358
AND SHE ASKED ME, "HEY,
DO YOU WANT TO COME TO THIS?"

00:40:44.442 --> 00:40:48.154
I REMEMBER BEING SO EXCITED
THE DAY BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS

00:40:48.237 --> 00:40:50.072
THAT I DIDN'T SLEEP AT ALL.

00:40:50.156 --> 00:40:51.991
I'D NEVER BEEN THAT NERVOUS
ABOUT ANYTHING IN MY LIFE.

00:40:52.074 --> 00:40:54.910
I'D NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED ABOUT
ANYTHING IN MY LIFE LIKE THAT.

00:40:54.994 --> 00:41:00.040
THAT COULD BE A SIGN OF HOW
BADLY I WANTED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

00:41:00.124 --> 00:41:02.626
Garcia-Peña: THEY'RE NOT THERE
TO GET CREDITS.

00:41:02.710 --> 00:41:04.670
THEY'RE NOT THERE
TO GET A DEGREE

00:41:04.753 --> 00:41:05.296
THAT WOULD GET THEM A JOB.

00:41:06.255 --> 00:41:07.173
THEY'RE THERE
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE

00:41:07.256 --> 00:41:08.549
IN EDUCATION AND IN LEARNING.

00:41:08.632 --> 00:41:12.386
ON THE ONE HAND, THERE'S
THE COURSES THAT WE TEACH.

00:41:12.469 --> 00:41:14.930
THE OTHER PART OF THE PROGRAM
PREPARES THEM

00:41:15.014 --> 00:41:17.391
FOR APPLYING
FOR A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

00:41:17.474 --> 00:41:20.686
THIS YEAR, WE WERE ACTUALLY
VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PLACING

00:41:20.769 --> 00:41:22.563
FIVE OF OUR STUDENTS
IN TOP INSTITUTIONS

00:41:22.646 --> 00:41:25.065
ACROSS THE NATION
WITH FULL SCHOLARSHIPS.

00:41:25.149 --> 00:41:27.610
[EXHALES]

00:41:27.693 --> 00:41:29.737
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:33.199
DANI, YOU DON'T WANT
TO HELP ME PACK?

00:41:33.282 --> 00:41:36.702
NO? WHY NOT?
HELP ME PACK, MAN.

00:41:36.785 --> 00:41:40.372
Gustavo: WHEN I RECEIVED
MY ACCEPTANCE LETTER,

00:41:40.456 --> 00:41:42.249
I ASKED MY BROTHER,
MY LITTLE BROTHER,

00:41:42.333 --> 00:41:44.084
TO READ WHAT THE LETTER SAID,

00:41:44.168 --> 00:41:47.338
AND THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE,
IT'S, OH, "CONGRATULATIONS."

00:41:47.421 --> 00:41:49.590
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
I WAS REALLY EXCITED,

00:41:49.673 --> 00:41:53.385
AND I KIND OF JUST STARTED
PUTTING MY FIST UP IN THE AIR,

00:41:53.469 --> 00:41:56.931
LIKE, "YES! I'M ON MY WAY
TO SCHOOL."

00:41:57.014 --> 00:41:59.099
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

00:41:59.183 --> 00:42:01.101
YOU'RE LEANING
THAT WAY.

00:42:01.185 --> 00:42:03.062
SO KIND OF
PUSH IT THAT WAY.

00:42:03.145 --> 00:42:04.480
Gustavo: IT WILL BE THE START

00:42:04.563 --> 00:42:07.858
OF A COMPLETELY NEW CHAPTER
IN MY LIFE.

00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:10.361
Man: GUSTAVO GOING OFF
TO COLLEGE,

00:42:10.444 --> 00:42:13.739
I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR HIM,
VERY PROUD OF HIM, TOO.

00:42:13.822 --> 00:42:16.075
I'VE BEEN IN COLLEGE NOW
FOR A YEAR,

00:42:16.158 --> 00:42:20.120
AND HE'S FINALLY GETTING
TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

00:42:23.165 --> 00:42:25.834
Gustavo: EVERYTHING
I'VE EVER DONE

00:42:25.918 --> 00:42:28.879
WAS BECAUSE I HAD
A SUPPORT NETWORK.

00:42:28.963 --> 00:42:30.923
MY SUPPORT NETWORK
WAS MY PARENTS

00:42:31.006 --> 00:42:34.176
AND MY FRIENDS
WHO WERE PUSHING ME.

00:42:34.260 --> 00:42:37.471
MY DAD AND MOM, YOU KNOW,
THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES

00:42:37.554 --> 00:42:40.766
CROSSING THE BORDER FOR ME
AND TO BRING ME HERE.

00:42:40.849 --> 00:42:44.436
THIS IS SORT OF ME
DOING MY LITTLE BIT TO GIVE BACK

00:42:44.520 --> 00:42:47.356
SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL
A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

00:42:47.439 --> 00:42:48.816
AFTER ALL THIS HARD WORK,

00:42:48.899 --> 00:42:53.737
AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY,
I CAN PAY OFF THAT DEBT.

00:43:01.078 --> 00:43:03.706
MY MOTHER'S MESSAGE
TO HER CHILDREN--

00:43:03.789 --> 00:43:09.044
FOUR OF US, ME BEING
THE SECOND YOUNGEST--

00:43:09.128 --> 00:43:15.259
WAS, "YOUR DIGNITY ABOVE ELSE,
ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE,

00:43:15.342 --> 00:43:20.180
"IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN ANYTHING YOU'LL EVER DO,

00:43:20.264 --> 00:43:23.642
AND EDUCATION IS GOING TO HELP
YOU CREATE THAT DIGNITY."

00:43:23.726 --> 00:43:27.354
MY MOTHER FELT THAT SHE COULD
DO BETTER ON THE AMERICAN SIDE

00:43:27.438 --> 00:43:32.151
AS A SINGLE PARENT THAN
HAD SHE STAYED IN MEXICO.

00:43:32.234 --> 00:43:33.402
I'VE ALWAYS SAID TO MYSELF

00:43:33.485 --> 00:43:35.195
WHEN I'M REPORTING
ON SOME OF THESE STORIES,

00:43:35.279 --> 00:43:37.072
"THERE BUT FOR
THE GRACE OF GOD GO I,"

00:43:37.156 --> 00:43:39.533
BECAUSE I SEE MYSELF,
AND I SEE MY MOTHER, REPEATEDLY,

00:43:39.616 --> 00:43:43.329
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, EVEN
IN THE MOST DISMAL SETTINGS

00:43:43.412 --> 00:43:47.207
OF PARENTS WHO'VE
MADE A DECISION,

00:43:47.291 --> 00:43:51.045
WHO WILL SACRIFICE
AND WILL NOT STOP AT ANYTHING

00:43:51.128 --> 00:43:53.630
TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEIR KIDS SUCCEED.

00:43:53.714 --> 00:43:57.885
HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATION, FOR ME,
IF IT WAS MEMORABLE,

00:43:57.968 --> 00:43:59.887
IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS
A TIME FOR ME TO SAY

00:43:59.970 --> 00:44:03.182
TO MY MOTHER,
"THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LESSONS,

00:44:03.265 --> 00:44:06.852
YOU KNOW, AND FOR MAKING
THIS POSSIBLE."

00:44:25.496 --> 00:44:27.122
HI, DON.
HI, JUAN.

00:44:27.206 --> 00:44:28.749
OH, I FORGOT
MY FORK.

00:44:28.832 --> 00:44:30.667
OH, FINISH YOUR
PAPER IN ENGLISH?

00:44:30.751 --> 00:44:32.086
YEP.

00:44:32.169 --> 00:44:33.420
Juan: IN LAWRENCE

00:44:33.504 --> 00:44:36.548
IN SUCH A, LIKE, PREDOMINANT
LATINO POPULATION,

00:44:36.632 --> 00:44:39.635
THEY HAVE THE STEREOTYPE
OF A GUY BEING A GUY,

00:44:39.718 --> 00:44:43.764
AND HAVING ME COME OUT
BEING MORE, LIKE, FEMININE,

00:44:43.847 --> 00:44:47.643
I DON'T FIT THE STEREOTYPES
OF A MACHO MAN.

00:44:47.726 --> 00:44:49.311
Woman: LIKE THE TIME
JUAN PUNCHED ME

00:44:49.395 --> 00:44:51.522
IN THE FACE DANCING?

00:44:51.605 --> 00:44:53.524
FAVORITE
SENIOR MOMENT!

00:44:53.607 --> 00:44:54.817
YEP. WHAT'S UP?

00:44:54.900 --> 00:44:56.819
Juan: THE REASON
WHY I LOVE LAWRENCE,

00:44:56.902 --> 00:44:59.696
EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE FROM HERE
HUMILIATED ME,

00:44:59.780 --> 00:45:02.950
YET THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT FIRST ACCEPTED ME.

00:45:03.033 --> 00:45:06.537
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT CHANGED THEIR MIND.

00:45:10.082 --> 00:45:13.085
LAWRENCE HAS JUST BEEN THERE
EVERY TIME I NEEDED IT,

00:45:13.168 --> 00:45:18.090
FOR, LIKE, ANYTHING--LIKE,
PERFORMING ARTS, EDUCATION,

00:45:18.173 --> 00:45:20.008
MY FRIENDS ARE HERE,

00:45:20.092 --> 00:45:22.094
JUST SO MUCH THAT LAWRENCE
HAS GIVEN TO ME--

00:45:22.177 --> 00:45:23.971
THAT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE
TO GIVE BACK TO IT.

00:45:24.054 --> 00:45:25.514
I'LL LET PEOPLE KNOW
THAT THAT'S, BOOM,

00:45:26.473 --> 00:45:28.392
WHAT WE'RE
ORGANIZON THE LAST ARTICLENG

00:45:28.475 --> 00:45:30.018
BECAUSE I WANT
TO INTERVIEW ONE

00:45:30.102 --> 00:45:30.769
OF THE KIDS THAT GOT IT.

00:45:31.979 --> 00:45:33.480
SO I'M INTERVIEWING HER
ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE--

00:45:33.564 --> 00:45:34.273
HOW DID SHE MADE IT,

00:45:35.482 --> 00:45:36.525
HOW HARD IT WAS TAKING
THE PICTURES, AND ALL THAT.

00:45:36.608 --> 00:45:37.943
YOU CAN GO BY YOURSELF
WITH SAMANTHA,

00:45:38.026 --> 00:45:39.695
GET HER STUFF,
WHATEVER SHE WON,

00:45:39.778 --> 00:45:41.363
AND TAKE
PROFESSIONAL PICTURES,

00:45:41.447 --> 00:45:43.490
AND YOU GET HER TO TAKE
PICTURES OF YOU, TOO.

00:45:43.574 --> 00:45:44.241
THAT WOULD BE
REALLY GOOD.

00:45:45.409 --> 00:45:46.869
Man: 90% OF LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL
IS HISPANICS,

00:45:46.952 --> 00:45:48.412
AND SO THEY THINK
THAT, OH, WE'RE ON WELFARE

00:45:48.495 --> 00:45:51.748
AND WE'RE ON FOOD STAMPS AND
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

00:45:51.832 --> 00:45:54.334
ANOTHER STEREOTYPE
IS THAT WE'RE DROPOUTS,

00:45:54.418 --> 00:45:58.213
THAT WE ALL GO TO HIGH SCHOOL
AND WE END UP DROPPING OUT.

00:45:59.131 --> 00:46:01.008
"WHAT'S GOOD IN THE HOOD"
IS A NEWSPAPER

00:46:01.091 --> 00:46:02.384
RUN FULLY BASED BY STUDENTS.

00:46:02.468 --> 00:46:06.013
WHAT WE DO IS TO PROMOTE
THE POSITIVE THINGS IN LAWRENCE.

00:46:06.096 --> 00:46:08.265
IN LAWRENCE EVERYBODY
KNOWS EVERYBODY,

00:46:08.348 --> 00:46:10.184
AND WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER,
EACH PERSON,

00:46:10.267 --> 00:46:13.645
AND WE TRY TO HELP
EACH OTHER SUCCEED.

00:46:29.077 --> 00:46:31.413
[EXHALES]

00:46:32.623 --> 00:46:35.209
Man: WELCOME, EVERYONE,
TO THE SECOND ANNUAL

00:46:35.292 --> 00:46:38.545
"DANCING WITH THE STARS,"
LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL EDITION.

00:46:38.629 --> 00:46:40.380
WE HAVE A DOZEN STUDENTS
BACKSTAGE

00:46:40.464 --> 00:46:42.716
WITH SOME GREAT AND ENERGETIC
TEACHERS WAITING

00:46:42.799 --> 00:46:45.177
TO COME OUT HERE AND SHOW YOU
WHAT THEY HAVE.

00:46:45.260 --> 00:46:46.094
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:46:47.513 --> 00:46:50.516
Woman: NEXT UP, A DANCE
YOU MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

00:46:50.599 --> 00:46:52.184
THIS IS THE FOX TROT

00:46:52.267 --> 00:46:55.938
BY JUAN BERNABE
AND NURSE BRENDA ASHEN.

00:46:56.021 --> 00:46:58.482
[BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYING]

00:46:58.565 --> 00:47:03.529
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:47:09.451 --> 00:47:10.619
Man: WHOO!

00:47:10.702 --> 00:47:14.581
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:47:17.501 --> 00:47:20.921
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:47:25.342 --> 00:47:28.971
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:47:31.265 --> 00:47:35.769
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:47:38.522 --> 00:47:41.650
Woman: AND THE WINNERS ARE...

00:47:41.733 --> 00:47:43.777
MR. JUAN BERNABE...

00:47:43.860 --> 00:47:47.573
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:47:57.124 --> 00:48:00.252
ENCANTADA.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

00:48:00.335 --> 00:48:01.837
BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.

00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:04.131
HERMOSA, JUAN.

00:48:04.214 --> 00:48:06.383
[SPEAKS SPANISH]

00:48:06.466 --> 00:48:08.677
I'M SO HAPPY
TO MEET YOU.

00:48:08.760 --> 00:48:11.805
[ANA SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:48:29.740 --> 00:48:32.534
Juan: I'M A STRONG,
LATINO, GAY MALE,

00:48:32.618 --> 00:48:34.620
AND I ALWAYS CARRY MYSELF AROUND
WITH PRIDE.

00:48:34.703 --> 00:48:36.371
I DON'T HAVE TO HIDE IT.
THIS IS WHO I AM.

00:48:36.455 --> 00:48:40.500
IF YOU LIKE IT, YOU LIKE IT.
IF YOU DON'T, I'M SORRY.

00:48:41.001 --> 00:48:42.586
[CHUCKLES]

00:48:43.086 --> 00:48:45.505
OH...HA HA!

00:48:47.382 --> 00:48:49.843
Eduardo:
PASES, HOMBRE.

00:48:49.926 --> 00:48:51.011
Eduardo: I BECAME

00:48:51.094 --> 00:48:52.346
A FIRST-GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENT,

00:48:52.429 --> 00:48:54.014
AND MY DREAM WAS
TO COME BACK TO SEE

00:48:54.097 --> 00:48:55.849
HOW I CAN HELP
STUDENT THERE, TOO,

00:48:55.932 --> 00:48:58.769
AND I'M ACTUALLY FOLLOWING UP
WITH THAT DREAM

00:48:58.852 --> 00:49:02.064
AND HELPING THESE
STUDENTS OUT.

00:49:02.147 --> 00:49:06.860
I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT COLLEGES
THEY GET ACCEPTED TO,

00:49:06.943 --> 00:49:11.031
AND JUST SEEING THEM GROW
INSPIRES ME.

00:49:11.114 --> 00:49:14.701
I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO CHANGE,
AND NOW LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING.

00:49:14.785 --> 00:49:18.330
I'M ACTUALLY CHANGING
MY COMMUNITY, AS WELL.

00:49:18.413 --> 00:49:21.792
GOLS. GOL.

00:49:23.585 --> 00:49:26.088
Gustavo: I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME

00:49:26.171 --> 00:49:29.049
BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T
FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE--

00:49:29.132 --> 00:49:30.801
YOU KNOW, MY SUPPORT NETWORK--

00:49:30.884 --> 00:49:34.554
I WOULDN'T BE STARTING COLLEGE
TOMORROW.

00:49:34.638 --> 00:49:39.226
I WANT TO TELL ALL UNDOCUMENTED
YOUTH THAT YOU HAVE TO COME OUT.

00:49:39.309 --> 00:49:42.312
YOU SHOULD LOSE THAT FEAR
OF BEING UNDOCUMENTED.

00:49:42.396 --> 00:49:47.776
I KNOW THAT IT'S KIND OF SCARY
TO THINK ABOUT BEING DEPORTED

00:49:47.859 --> 00:49:50.112
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH
THE AMERICAN DREAM

00:49:50.195 --> 00:49:52.948
MAY BE SORT OF UNREACHABLE
FOR SOME OF US,

00:49:53.031 --> 00:49:56.243
THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE US TO GET
ACTIVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY

00:49:56.326 --> 00:49:58.954
AND TRY TO HELP
OUR COMMUNITY OUT.

00:49:59.037 --> 00:50:02.916
I AM UNDOCUMENTED
AND UNAFRAID.

00:50:03.000 --> 00:50:03.583
I AM NOT A CRIMINAL.

00:50:04.751 --> 00:50:06.086
I AM NOT ILLEGAL,
BUT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT

00:50:06.169 --> 00:50:07.129
IS WHAT I REALLY AM.

00:50:07.212 --> 00:50:07.838
I AM A DREAMER.

00:50:09.005 --> 00:50:11.967
IT'S NOT AN INDIVIDUAL STRUGGLE.
IT'S COLLECTIVE.

00:50:12.050 --> 00:50:15.387
IT'S A COLLECTIVE STRUGGLE.
IT'S COLLECTIVE IN EVERY ASPECT.

00:50:15.470 --> 00:50:17.556
Woman: WHEN I SAY, "HUMAN,"
YOU SAY, "RIGHTS."

00:50:17.639 --> 00:50:18.765
HUMAN!
RIGHTS!

00:50:18.849 --> 00:50:20.684
HUMAN!
RIGHTS!

00:50:22.936 --> 00:50:26.398
[CROWD CHEERING]

00:50:26.732 --> 00:50:31.361
[AIR HORNS BLARE]

00:50:32.195 --> 00:50:35.323
Juan: GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL
IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

00:50:35.407 --> 00:50:37.993
NOT EVERY KID CAN SAY,
"OH, I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,"

00:50:38.076 --> 00:50:39.453
BECAUSE SOME OF THEM DROP OUT.

00:50:39.536 --> 00:50:43.623
SOME OF THEM JUST DON'T
MAKE IT ON TIME.

00:50:44.124 --> 00:50:48.628
Man: TODAY OVER 650 STUDENTS
WALK ACROSS THIS STAGE

00:50:48.712 --> 00:50:52.424
AS A BEACON OF THE SUCCESS
AND DETERMINATION OF THIS CITY.

00:50:52.507 --> 00:50:58.180
Juan: I THINK ME FINALLY
COMING OUT AND BEING WHO I AM

00:50:58.263 --> 00:50:59.389
HELPED A LOT.

00:50:59.473 --> 00:51:02.476
[MAN ANNOUNCING NAMES]

00:51:02.559 --> 00:51:04.311
JUAN JOSE BERNABE.

00:51:04.394 --> 00:51:05.479
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

00:51:05.562 --> 00:51:07.189
Juan: HAVING MY MOM
SUPPORTING ME

00:51:07.272 --> 00:51:09.316
AND HAVING THE SUPPORT
OF MY FRIENDS EVERY DAY,

00:51:09.399 --> 00:51:12.235
I WAS LUCKY THAT I COULD FIND
THOSE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE

00:51:12.319 --> 00:51:14.863
TO HELP ME NOT TO DROP OUT.

00:51:14.946 --> 00:51:18.492
[CHEERING]

00:51:27.334 --> 00:51:29.836
Noguera: THE INVESTMENTS
WE MAKE IN EDUCATION

00:51:29.920 --> 00:51:31.546
ARE INVESTMENTS IN OUR FUTURE.

00:51:31.630 --> 00:51:33.673
WHO WE DON'T EDUCATE
IS GOING TO HAVE

00:51:33.757 --> 00:51:36.009
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES
FOR OUR ECONOMY,

00:51:36.092 --> 00:51:38.512
FOR OUR LABOR FORCE,
FOR EVERYTHING.

00:51:38.595 --> 00:51:39.805
SO EDUCATING LATINO CHILDREN

00:51:39.888 --> 00:51:44.601
IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART
OF SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE.

00:51:44.684 --> 00:51:47.687
LEARNING IS ULTIMATELY WHAT
BREAKS THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.

00:51:47.771 --> 00:51:51.525
IT'S THE EXPANSION OF YOUR
HORIZONS AND WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

00:51:51.608 --> 00:51:53.193
IT'S THE BELIEF THAT YOU CAN

00:51:53.276 --> 00:51:54.653
ACCOMPLISH THINGS
THROUGH LEARNING.

00:51:54.736 --> 00:51:59.115
THAT'S WHAT TRANSFORMS LIVES,
TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES.

00:52:05.747 --> 00:52:10.669
♪♪