This likely isn’t going to be groundbreaking information, but perhaps it’s the little guidance and motivation you need. The first step might be unique to those with employment authorization, but the first thing I did was look at the expiration date on my work authorization card. I wanted to make sure I had a year or more before my expiration date so I wouldn’t be stuck with the stress of job searching and applying for DACA renewal at the same time.

If you’ve also felt different in any way, chances are that, like me, you made yourself smaller, more invisible, and eventually more similar.

Recently, I've been feeling as though my entire life, as I know it, could be ripped away in a blink of an eye. The uncertainty of it all is what chips away at me the most. Some days are better than others, the constant anxiety a dull throb, almost invisible.

Everyone has a different recollection of what happened in June of 2012 when President Obama made the executive order and set in place the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. If you were amongst the 800,000 dreamers that were blessed by this decision then you might find yourself relating to the experience that we shared on this day.

These facts were news to us: 

• There are up to 3.6 million Dreamers in the U.S., many of whom are ineligible for DACA due to not applying or aging into the program after new applications were halted.

• Approximately 530,000 Dreamers – are currently protected under DACA.

• Even at the height of DACA participation, only about 800,000 Dreamers were protected.