ABSTRACT
Jeronimo’s story is one of an amazing young man with a Mexican heritage but an American identity. Although he values and embraces his American identity, Jeronimo is constantly reminded of his lack of legal status, which prevents him from being considered a true “American.” Born in Mexico, Jeronimo came to the United States when he was a year old and has lived in the United States all of his life. The negative sentiment most Americans feel toward immigrants due to media influences is a part of Jeronimo’s daily existence. In addition to missed educational opportunities, Jeronimo has been forced to decline important employment opportunities because of his inability to produce needed legal documentation. Jeronimo’s academic achievements in high school are no surprise since he started excelling in school at a very young age. In high school, Jeronimo continued to expand his band participation and got involved in other extracurricular activities.
