by Cristopher Rubio
It was during my second year as a high school math teacher in Southwest Atlanta that a knock on my classroom door changed my life. The 9th grade math
teacher down the hall couldn’t handle Rolando and she probably figured that it couldn’t hurt for him to meet the only Latino teacher on campus.
As he entered my room, I said something to him in Spanish. I swear you’ve never seen a kid’s face light up the way his did that afternoon, just knowing there was someone like him. We quickly gravitated towards each other, probably because the school population was 99% African-American (we were the only two brown folks in the building). I tutored him in math after school, went to his soccer games, and even took him to a Lambda Theta Alpha Coming Out Show at a local college.
I’ll never forget when he said that I talked like “a sophisticated Latino.” “An educated Latino,” I corrected, “and there’s nothing wrong with that.” He changed schools after that year and sent me this wonderful email.
In May, Rolando sent me a video clip of him leading his peers in a walkout, in protest of Georgia’s immigration policies (that’s him in the orange vest). You see, Rolando is undocumented. The same kid that has passed multiple AP tests and is ranked in the top ten percent of his class may not even be able to attend college in this state.
A couple weeks ago, I received an update on Rolando, only this time from an organization called Dream Activist. Apparently, Rolando was going to be marching at the Capitol building, publicly coming out as an undocumented student, risking arrest and possible deportation. Well, Rolando was arrested for blocking traffic while making a demonstration with five other undocumented students.
I wonder how many of us would be brave enough to do the same thing? Brought here as a child by his father, his mother in a country that he can’t risk visiting, politicians calling for him to be sent “back home,” and he’s still fighting for his place in this country.
You go into education hoping to make a difference in the lives of our youth. You never really think that they’ll be the ones that end up making a difference in your life. It’s hard for me to describe what Rolando means to me, how his struggle has made me value my privileges as a U.S. citizen. I can go to sleep every night without the fear of being deported and being separated from my family.
I recently asked Rolando what he wanted people to know about undocumented students. He replied:
“We are not here to take Americans’ jobs. We did not ask to enter this country. We do not want benefits from the government, we just want to be recognized as what we are, Americans.”
Well I’ll be damned, my little Rolando sounds like a sophisticated Latino.
Thank you for everything you do Rolando, let’s pass the DREAM Act.
To learn more about Cris, visit ElKaminoReal.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those
of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.
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About Cristopher Rubio
I WISH THE BEST TO ROLANDO AND THE DREAMERS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE U.S. REJECTS US STUDENTS WHO WANT BE PROFESSIONALS AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. BUT THE U.S. WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE MOST DEMOCRATIC NATION IN THE WORLD REJECTS THESE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS. SHAME ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
that’s crazy, I wish him the best.
It’s amazing how when you are put in a position of service, you end up seeing the fruits of your labor. Thanks for this article Rubio. It makes me realize that I too can spark a change in society.
~MADJesus
I teach in Dalton, GA. I have had the same experience. One of my students is now back in Mexico City. She just finished 7th grade, and she has shown more about what it means to love the US than most who were born here. She, and her family stands for the values that made the US great. Sadly, those who are in control no longer have those values and she is gone.
WOW!!!! That is amazing. It’s so easy for us to update our FB statuses or retweet something about the Dream Act, but to risk everything like this kid did takes some real courage. Thank you for sharing this kid’s story. I hope it gives us all a little more courage to stand for what we believe in.
I was truly moved by this article and I hope and pray only the best for this young man and others who are going through such a difficult time… I am proud for their courage to stand up and voice their concerns.
Rolando’s courage is amazing. I wish the best to him and all students fighting for the Dream of being educated in the country they love and being recognized as Americans.
WOW Rubio, this article contains so much soul. I can assure you that Rolando will forever remember your words and example.
This is an amazing story, Chris!
Cris, I’m sure you made a HUGE difference in Rolando’s life that help “spark” up his dream in believing in himself. My hats off to you and to all those teachers that with some caring words can change a childs life. Roland is the few brave that risked being deported, but was conviced that he voice and march was more important.
Cris, this–like your other articles–contains so much heart. I hope more articles like this find their way to the right people to enact some change.
Amazing story. Congratulations on touching the life of this young man and giving him the tools to become a man.
It has truly been amazing to work with Rolando (aka Richie) these last few years. To see him grow into the young man he has become makes me want to continue to work hard for students. He went from a shy freshman into a strong leader that any high school (and college) would want.
Glad to see how Rolando has developed into a leader in a young generation you cares about social change. I still remember reading that email he sent ya and putting myself in his shoes. Good job Cris! Wish Rolando the best.
Yeah, when I was growing up in a 90% hispantic area, I wish I could have related to someone as Rolando. HOwever, all I had at the time were partents, and teachers telling me how bad it was to be white. Some of my best friends in school were, undocument students, who attended my high school. My teachers, and counciler told them and ecouraged them to go to college. When I asked for their support, I was told, oh, you want to go to college, better join the Army, little Gringo. Things like this make me happy that you undocumented people are now gaing the political power to make yourself legal. However, once you get into power don’t become like the pricks that poured acid on me, because I was white to make me whiter, don’t be like the kids that hit me against the walls because I was different. Teach your kids to respect all people, don’t let the collectivness of your “community” beat up other people.
In short, I just wish when I was growing up like little Rolando, I too could have had someone to give me hope, someone to give me motivation.
This article is awesome broski. I had tears in my eyes the first time I read it. Keep writing, your words are really motivating. I’m glad I met you. God bless you.