Posted on 07/28/2014 2:34:33 AM PDT by markomalley
Fifteen years ago, when I was 6, my parents and I moved to the United States from Canada, where I was born. Since moving to this great country, I have attended elementary, middle and high school in Coral Springs, Fla., and I’m currently pursuing a bachelor degree in biological sciences and pre-med at Florida Atlantic University.
I’m also a “non-resident alien,” meaning I was able to stay in the United States first under a visa because of my father’s job and now thanks to a student visa. But because of my status as a non-resident alien, I have paid out-of-state tuition during my time at Florida Atlantic.
Even under the new law signed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott—which grants in-state tuition to students living illegally in the United States—I’m left paying out-of-state rates.
How can someone who is living in the United States illegally get a tuition break but I get penalized for doing things legally?
My father has been on a nonimmigrant NAFTA professional visa as part of his job for 15 years. He personifies a typical hard-working American citizen. He has paid his taxes in the United States and has worked feverishly as a computer consultant but could not be sponsored for a green card until recently, when he was hired as a full-time employee.
Upon receiving the news he’s now being sponsored for a green card, I was ecstatic for my father and also excited that I would be able to attend medical school in the United States.
L-R Marcie, Brandon, Jeffrey, Amber (Photo: Marcie Macknofsky)
My feeling quickly changed, though, when I learned that even though my father was able to “grandfather” both my mother and sister on his green card, I would be excluded since I turned 21 on Dec. 20, 2013. I already have aged out. (I also have a 5-year-old U.S.-born brother.)
Now, I find it is nearly impossible to become a physician and attend medical school in the United States. I cannot go to a state medical school as I am considered an international student, despite my extensive education and residency in the United States.
I’ve considered alternatives, such as attending a private university. But few will accept a student without a green card. And without a green card or an American co-signer, I cannot obtain any sort of scholarship or student loan being a Canadian citizen. Without a loan, I can’t afford the cost of tuition for medical school.
At Florida Atlantic University, I have a 3.87 GPA, tutor for biochemistry and work up to 10-hour shifts as a hospital emergency room physician scribe a few times a week. At a time when the United States is facing a shortage of doctors, I’m committed to a career in medicine. I’ve been so grateful for the opportunities in life that I hope I can give back to my community through medicine.
I believe that being a doctor is a calling to me as I wish to help others in the way that physicians have helped me. From being hit by a truck when I was in high school to saving one of my best friend’s life from lung cancer at the age of 19, what doctors do on a daily basis is sheerly incomprehensible, and all I want to have is the opportunity to follow my version of the American dream.
For the past 15 years, I’ve come to call the United States my home. I consider myself an American in every way, and I hope that one day, I’ll become a citizen. In the meantime, though, I hope our nation’s leaders will remember those of us who are following a legal path to citizenship and at least level the playing field for us.
You’re a white male.
If he were brown skinned, he would be immune from any and all immigration laws and rules. I am being somewhat sarcastic, but not much.
He’s White.
It is amazing how screwed up our non-system of immigration is. It is also amazing that anything the government will do about will only make things worse.
Great society we have here, play by the rules and get punished at every turn.
Can you swim? If so, a short visit to northern Mexico and a few strokes across the Rio Grande should resolve your problem.
A name change would be helpful, too.
Don’t bother with the rules just say you’re an “undocumented” immigrant.
All Americans should do the same to get in state tuition. If the college tries to punish sue them for discrimination.
He could get married. If it’s to another man, he’s in for sure.
If he spoke Spanish and could offer the certain promise he would be a burden on our entitlement system throughout his life (meaning he’s be cinch Democrat voter), he’d be in like Flynn.
He’ll be lucky if he isn’t deported for the crime of speaking out against the Regime.
That should have been your first sign of trouble, dude. I'm not sure why anyone dealing with that kind of idiocy would have any interest in going to medical school here in the U.S.
Do yourself a favor and go back to Canada for medical school. If you're going to end up working in an over-regulated, dysfunctional field like medicine, you might decide that you like it better up there anyway.
A great sob story which we hear so often after someone has lived here illegally or overstaying their visa (whatever) for decades.
Simple solution is to go to University in Canada where he is citizen.
Learn to pick lettuce, gringo.
Back of the line cracker.
He could just claim to be a lesbian trapped on a man’s body ... And maybe throw in a little beasties pity for good measure. I’m sure the Democrats must have an app for that.
...”You’re a white male.”...
And, you are too committed, Dear. You are way too legal. You might, as a physician, object to bureaucrats and the IRS telling you how to treat patients if you practice in the US. You must worship your dictator and the thought police. Also, your government and the media may suspect that you are a racist because you do things legally and you have while skin. You just do not fit the “pogram.” Welcome to the “Brave New World.”
His problem is that he’s not an MS-13 gang member. That’s a fast track ticket into the country.
I guess it’s preferable to have “Doctors” with the correct pigmentation and accent that would potentially amputate the wrong limb and leave a few metal instruments inside you post-surgery, than hard working & studious native “western” doctors?
Welcome to Obamaland!
Figure out how to become a citizen or go to school in Canada.
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