As part of Undocu-Ally Week, we’ve asked undocumented students to share their stories and explain what it means to have support from the Marquette community. Today we’re sharing the story of Nestor Ruelas, a senior majoring in corporate communications and political science and current president of Marquette DREAMers.
For more information on how you can get involved in Undocu-Ally Week programming, visit the diversity homepage.
Going to school was my favorite thing to do as a kid, not just for recess, but because I found subjects like math super fun. At that age, I didn’t understand what it meant to be undocumented; I just remembered my mom saying, “No le digas a nadie”—meaning, “Don’t tell anyone.” It wasn’t until high school, when my friends began getting jobs, that I started to grasp the significance of her words. I had always dreamed of working at a pizza place to learn how to make my favorite food, but when I asked my mom if I could get a job, she said, “No puedes”—“You can’t.” That was the first moment I truly felt different from my classmates. As I grew older, the doors to opportunities began to close. My friends started getting their driver’s licenses, and I longed to drive, but I knew that one wrong move could put me in jeopardy of being sent back to where I was born.
Imagine having a life set in another country and then finding out you’re going to have a child. Faced with the harsh reality of limited opportunities, you decide to leave everything behind to ensure your child has a chance at a better life in the “land of opportunities.” That was my parents’ story. They sacrificed their lives for me, leaving their families behind and giving their loved ones one last hug, never to see them again until FaceTime made it possible.
I often say that I didn’t choose this life; I was given this life. It’s a reminder to be kind to others, as you never know what someone else is going through. I want to thank everyone who continues to advocate for undocumented people. Remember, this isn’t just my movement; it’s ours. It affects not only me, but our friends, our families, and our world.
