Guest post by Estefany Matute, DACA Recipient
Have you ever felt different, left out, or even worthless? My name is Estefany Matute and today I want to tell you a little about my story. I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras one of the most dangerous countries on the planet. My family and I moved here to the united states in 2000 when I was only five years old and we moved to Memphis, Tennessee. The worst part was that I came here without having anything or being able to speak English. I started going to school just like any normal child and with the years passing by, I was able to learn English and get the help I needed. All throughout school I always felt different and sad because students would talk about how they were going to take their license test or how they traveled outside the united states for the summer. As I heard my classmates talk about that I began to feel sad worthless or like there was no point for me to be here.
I was always so negative with myself and always thought about the worst. I remember crying many times knowing that I wouldn’t be able to get a job or even be A nurse like I’ve always wanted to be. I thank my parents because they always told me to trust in God and to leave it to him. They told me to have faith in him and that he wouldn’t ever leave me because the Lord never leaves his children. One thing that got me through these hard moments was a Bible verse my mom showed me and I always use it.
In Jeremiah 29:11 it says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.When I read that verse I felt so much peace in my heart and I prayed and said to the Lord I give you my life, my dreams, and my future. When I was 15 years old I had the opportunity to apply for Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) where I would be able to legally work, have a better college opportunity, and become a part a Country that I’ve grown to love. I started to see how God was answering my prayers and his promises of never leaving me. Not only that but, when he closed one door he opened up better ones.
He gave me the opportunity to be able to go to college and become a medical assistant and as of now, I am still in school to become a registered nurse. Always trust in him especially in the moments where you feel different, left out, worthless or anything else you’re feeling.
DACA has been a very important part of my life. It has helped me accomplish many things in my life. I am still having hope and trusting in God. I hope people can see that the removal of Daca will highly impact the dreamer community along with crushing dreams, separating families, and deferring our futures.
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Memphis immigration Project is a faith-based bipartisan organization that exists to equip communities, and advance policies that are just and equitable for the welfare of the city.
