This is Wilson Botero. I met wilson when I was jus 14 yrs old. We attended the same high school and while it was my freshman year it was his senior year. At first I remember wilson for being quiet but being hopelessly in love wit one of our mutual friends. As the years went on we became closer and closer and he was able to open up to me about his immigration status. Something to which I was totally oblivious to because in my mind at the time I thought all my friends were legal. It was a surprise to me. So when I was told to do this project I had him as one of my possibile interviewees. I gotta tell you after this interview I feel even closer to him as a friend because he was able to tell me in detail some of the things that some people do not openly speak about, and so here is his story.
Hi im Wilson Botero. I am from Colombia,..Pereira Colombia to be exact. My story is similar but unique in its own way among the immigrant community. When I came to the United States I was only 2 years old. Im now 26. Ive lived in the U.S for 24 years. I currently reside in the bronx with my immediate family. My parents, 4 sisters, 1 neice,1 nephew and family dog. When I came to the U.S I obviously did not come by my own will but by that of my parents. So I cant say that I had a reason but Iam grateful they took the chance and came to the U.S. They were pursuing a better life for themselves and for me. I honestly cannot see myself living anywhere else. I know that my parents came here to pursue better financial opportunities. They were struggling in Colombia. They felt they would be better financially in the U.S. My parents expected it to be better. They just wanted an opportunity to provide for their family. What lead them to take the leap was my mothers sisters. Two of her sisters took the risk of migrating here and it worked out for them in the sense that they were doing well financally and not struggling as much. Thats what my parents used as a motivation to move out here and accomplish their goals. At first I know it wasnt glamorous for them. They rented rooms, worked typical restaurant jobs that most immigrants tend to start out at. After few yrs they became their own bosses, basically became salesman for all kinds of things. They worked their own hours and avoided the hard labor jobs that most immmigrants get stuck in. Today we run a "Special Events"company which provides videography and photography. When I asked them if they accomplished their goal their response was yes. In the end what they wanted was to provide for me and my 4 sisters and up to date this has been possible. This is what makes them happy above all. I have family members from my moms side down in florida. Unfortuantely everyone from my dads side still live in Colombia. I just hope that they too have the opportunity to come experience the U.S. Now here is where my story flips a little. Since I came here when i was young my immigration status wasnt quite established when I hit the age of 18. So after a few years seeing how my opportuinties were sort of limited I married my long time girlfriend to ensure my residency here. Iam not a U.S citizen yet because I need to be a resident for 3 yrs or more. I wont make my 3rd yr until the summer of 2010,but as soon as im able to pursue becoming a citizen I will do so.
Going to school here was great. By first grade I was speaking english fine or even better than my parents. My mother never wanted me to be in a bilingual class because she felt I would grasp the language better if I was placed in regular classes. I still use my native language at home. My father can somewhat hold a conversation. My mom will understand but she will not be able to properly convey what she is sayin unless she is speaking spanish. Not being a citizen has had its bad side of course. I do not see myself as an American reason being that I feel the U.S doesnt give immigrants enough help. In my mind im Colombian. Glad to be in the U.S but it was to hard for me to get my papers to ever consider myself an American. The term American doesnt mean anything to me. Took me 22yrs to be acknowledged and be able to get a job on the books. It dont mean nothing to me. I cant say that my experience is exactly the same because I dont know what others in my situation dealt with. I do know that as an immigrant you sort of resign to the fact that most jobs you can get will be hard labor for minimun wage. This I gotta tell u affected me mentally because I saw my friends moving foward while i was being held back because i was born in Colombia. I wasnt able to attend college for a while because I couldnt afford it. Any job I attained was below minimum wage. I felt helpless. The best way I can put it is that it felt like an endless dark tunnel with no light at the end. Most immigrants settle for less and are happy with that. I wasnt goin to. I wanted success. I just wanted the same opportunities my friends around me had.
In 5-10 years I see myself being a cop. Doing something I enjoy. Living comfortably but not lavishly. I currently work in my parents business as a camera man/editor. I only work weekends while I attend school full time during the weekdays. I also do some editing for extra money when I have the chance too. Since Iwant to become an NYPD cop I need 60 credits. I will join the navy because I can get my citizenship quicker and my 4 yrs in the navy will count towards my years in the NYPD. I have lived for the better part of my life in the bronx but I've lived in manhattan too. I also stayed with my aunt in florida for a few months when I was younger until my parents were situated in new york. Not being citizen has only limited me in the fact that I can't become an NYPD cop yet. But in time that will happen.
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