Logo
Donate
Logo
Donate

Going to College Isn't Just About Me, It's About All the Undocumented Families in My Neighborhood

Nov 28, 2016 12:00:00 AM

by Destiny Domeneck

Growing up in the South Bronx, you can come across so many different cultures within just a five block radius. And as different as all of these cultures are, you can see how they share so many important qualities: everyone is hardworking, motivated and determined to make better lives for their families. But the one thing that you don’t see much of in my community is college graduates. Even in my family, most don’t hold a college degree and many didn’t finish high school because there are so many jobs around here that don’t require a higher level of education. So for me, it was natural that I hadn’t considered college before being a part of OneGoal. OneGoal works to support excellent teachers already working in low-income public high schools to coach students toward college enrollment and success. OneGoal absolutely opened my mind to what was possible and exposed me to so many careers that I had never before considered. I remember in my sophomore year being introduced to OneGoal and thinking “college preparation? Isn’t that what the school is for?” The OneGoal staff and my program director Ms. Choi have really taken it to the next level in the way that they’ve supported me through studying for the SATs, researching colleges, writing supplemental college essay and applying for scholarships. I’m applying to over 20 colleges all across the country because I want to study sociology and political science to better understand how different cultures can coexist, especially now when it feels like there is so much division between everyone. I feel like in this country we have such a strong belief of what is safe versus what isn’t safe and we associate it with different cultures because of past experiences or biases and it’s a roadblock in terms of making our country stronger and making our community more inclusive. Even as an American citizen, I at times feel excluded from everyone every time I have to check off the “other” box on a form when it asks for details of my identity, instead of feeling pride in the six different cultures that I represent. The reason that I want to go to college and receive a strong education is that I find it really interesting how America sees some people coming into our country as threats while others are welcomed wholeheartedly. Once we are able to change our mindset on what it means to be an American, it’ll really change the country for the better. I want to be a part of that change. So when I hear that people want to come to my neighborhood of extraordinary people and promote policies that would split apart the undocumented families who I see working hard, contributing to the rich culture of our community, and paying their taxes, I have to stand against it. I take part in community organizing, have protested for my community, and more than anything, have seen the impact that my single voice can make. I’m so thankful to OneGoal and Ms. Choi for helping me see the possibilities that college can offer to not only better myself, but better my community. I’m now more determined than ever to earn my college degree so that I can one day serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and really make an impact on the world.
An original version of this post appeared on OneGoal as Leading With Integrity.

Destiny Domeneck

Destiny Domeneck is in her second year as a OneGoal Fellow and is a high school senior at Bronx Lighthouse Charter School in New York. Destiny intends to study political science and sociology in college next year, and hopes to one day serve as a United States ambassador to the United Nations.

Leave a Comment

The Feed

Explainers

all explainers

  • EXPLAINED: What Are Standardized Tests and Why Do We Need Them?

    Ed Post Staff

    EXPLAINED: What Are Standardized Tests and Why Do We Need Them? Few issues in education spark more tension and debate than standardized testing. Are they a tool for equity or a burden on students? A...

  • Explained: What Is the Federal Charter Schools Program?

    Ed Post Staff

    Charter schools are public schools with a purpose. Operating independently from traditional school districts, they're tuition-free, open to all students, and publicly funded—but with more flexibility...

  • A Leaky Educator Pipeline Loses Teachers of Color

    Ed Post Staff

    Despite the benefits of a diverse teaching force, prospective teachers of color fall out of our leaky preparation pipeline at every stage: preparation, hiring, induction, and retention. Here’s what...

Ed Post is the flagship website platform of brightbeam, a 501(c3) network of education activists and influencers demanding a better education and a brighter future for every child.

© 2020-2025 brightbeam. All rights reserved.