On August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” The Declaration of Independence says that men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These sentiments, however, apply a little differently to immigrants.

The Dream Is Planted

I grew up in Cavite City, Philippines, a small metropolis south of the capital, Manila. It was a bustling town that saw good relationships between Filipinos and Americans due to the presence of the then-U.S. Naval Station Sangley Point. My hometown’s relationship with the U.S. military benefited my family as my grandmother was employed at the Naval Commissary at Sangley Point and Subic Bay, and two of my uncles proudly served in the U.S. Navy and retired after more than 20 years of service.

After my relatives emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they sent my family balikbayan boxes, which contained things like food, personal care items, clothes, and more. You name the it and it was probably in there. The most memorable item my grandmother sent me was a VHS tape called Disney Sing Along Songs: Disneyland Fun. That was the first time I saw Disneyland, and the first time I dreamt of going to America.

Opportunity Strikes

I earned the chance to study in San Francisco and finally stepped on American soil on August 23, 2014. Just a few hours after arriving, the Bay Area was hit by the worst earthquake it had seen in 25 years. But that wasn’t my first significant experience with a natural disaster. Almost a year before I arrived, one of the strongest and most destructive typhoons in human history struck the Philippines. It left thousands of people dead and thousands more homeless. I believe the effects could have been lessened if not prevented if our cities were properly planned and developed. This is why I decided to leave a good career in the Philippines to pursue a masters in social entrepreneurship. Because I wanted to empower myself to make a positive impact in our world.   

After arriving in America, I quickly saw a side of the country rarely seen on TV and in movies. Homelessness, hunger, pain, survival. Being in a diverse and multicultural environment helped me understand more about societal issues that all countries face and what people can do to lessen them. This experience made me appreciative of technology and the effect it has on everyone’s lives, and passionate about using it to do social, economic, and environmental good. It also made me realize that I wanted to make my impact from the United States and be the bridge that connects the developed and developing worlds.

After my program ended, I finally got to visit Disneyland. Then, I opted to do my Optional Practical Training (OPT) in Seattle. I moved to Bremerton and stayed with my relatives to save on rent. As I was searching for jobs, I didn’t expect the struggles that were about to come.

Setbacks Set In

One requirement of OPT is that “a student may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment during any post-completion OPT.” But after about a hundred applications, I couldn’t seem to get a job anywhere.

So I started networking in Seattle and the first event I attended was Washington Technology Industry Association’s Tech Crawl in Pioneer Square. Through this event, I made connections with people that helped me become a marketing volunteer at the Social Venture Partners Seattle Fast Pitch event at McCaw Hall. It also opened the door for me to blog for WTIA, and do inside sales and marketing at Magnum Print Solutions, a toner remanufacturing company. Since April, I’ve also been involved with Net Impact as a Chapters Fellow. This means I’m working three jobs at the moment, one full-time job and two part-time. This is how I maintained my legal status during OPT, although unfortunately I didn’t even come close to finding a long-term job.

Out of hundreds of resumes and cover letters, I only got two interviews. TWO. I don’t know if it was because of my background or because of my citizenship status. It came to a point when I was questioning my skills and my own self-worth. I wanted to make a positive impact on the world but because I’m Filipino, I can’t do it here.

Looking Ahead

On August 3, 2016, I attended the “Reason for Reform” press conference event at the World Trade Center in Seattle. It is part of a nationwide campaign by the Partnership for a New American Economy to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Listening to the speakers there made me feel better because I met people that stood up for dreamers like me who aspire to work and live in the United States. I felt that I had a voice in this country, which motivated me to write this blog post and to become better at what I do.

I’ll be leaving this country in a couple of months. What I’ll take home is two years’ worth of experiences and memories I’ve had with talented people. Working with WTIA specifically has built my writing and communication skills and taught me how to learn from and connect with industry changemakers. Although my time here has come with its disappointments, I still hope that I’ll have an opportunity to return and work here just like I always dreamed, using all I’ve learned from both my successes and my struggles.

Feeling inspired to make tech more welcoming to women and minorities? Sign up to volunteer or request a volunteer through WTIA’s Speakers Bureau.