student struggle

My name is Arthur and I am 20 years old illegal immigrant.My mom brought me to America in 2001 with a visitor VISA and ever since the day I stepped my feet on this land I fell in love with it.Weeks after we landed, my mom went back to her home country and left me in America with my sister and her boyfriend. I attended my first two years of high school while living with them. There, I earned honor roll and perfect attendance and participated in extra curricular activities. While living in my sister's household a lot of bad and good things happened to me.Her boyfriend,father of all her three kids, forced me into heavy labor around the house and often used abusive language towards me.He also made me come with him to steal construction materials from Home Depot and under development neighborhoods. If I refused to go,he would often threat me saying that I would have to go back to my home country.Unfortunately my sister saw everything that was going on and did absolutely nothing.One day in the summer of 2003, they made me quit school and head back to my home country.

The only good thing that happened to me while living with them was that I met one of their neighbor,a true American family.I became really good friends with one of their kids and we often spent time together playing soccer.I became really close to the whole family and they often invited to their house and other family activities.In the other hand, my sister and her boyfriend opposed me and told me to end my relationship with their family,but I didn't.

After leaving America,me and this American family kept in touch for a while until they invited me to go back and live with them in their house.They also became by law my legal guardians until I was 18 years old.At that time we had no clue that I was here with my visitor VISA and that I only could stay in America for short periods of time.I found out that I illegally living in the United States in the summer of 2004 after I got my driver's license.The DMV sent me a letter saying that my Social Security number was wrong.When I asked my mom about it,they said my sister issued me a fake SSN.My heart was broken into pieces and I did not know what to do.My American family agreed to let me live with them even though I was an illegal immigrant.

In 2005 I graduated from high school but could not attend college due to my legal status.During the fall of the same year, I requested a private meeting with the Den of a local Technical College.I explained to him my situation and he agreed to let me attend his school as an international student.Little did I know, but international students pay around $1500 per quarter instead of $400 that resident students pay.I did not know what to do since I do not have a real job and only work part time.I struggled but thanks to God I am able to save enough money to take at least one class per quarter.Believe or not, my girlfriend's family(American) also help me out a lot with school tuition and other things.

Today,I am few weeks away from turning 21.I can not drive,work,get health insurance,and other things legal residents can.One day, I plan on having an family in the United States;also I plan on getting an Associate degree in business first,then move on to a 4 year school expand my education.Thanks to God,and my American family I get up everyday strong,taking one day at the time waiting for the best day of my life to come;the day I officially become an American citizen.Finally,for all the people that read my story,just remember to never give up.