The tightening of immigration policies and the political discourse promoted during President Donald Trump’s administration have transformed the daily lives of thousands of students and families in the United States. The growing presence of ICE in immigrant communities has intensified fear, anxiety, and emotional instability, especially among young people who are trying to continue their education amid uncertainty.
For many students, academic stress is compounded by constant worry about their families’ safety, since, at a national level, immigration policies have escalated to extreme situations: immigrants disappearing, being detained under questionable conditions, and even documented cases of mistreatment and killings of migrants and U.S. citizens. The possibility that a parent or family member may be detained or disappear represents an emotional burden that goes far beyond the classroom. That persistent fear often leads to difficulty concentrating, poor academic performance, and high levels of anxiety.
During my years as a student, I also felt the weight of this fear in my own voice. I avoided speaking Spanish in front of classmates for fear of being judged, and in English, I doubted every word because of my accent. And I ask myself, when did speaking another language become something to mock or be ashamed of? Learning to express myself in both languages has become an act of everyday courage, and it made me understand how fear can affect even the most basic things: communication.
Despite these challenges, I continue to see resilience in students like me and my peers. Many continue attending classes, working, and pursuing their goals, even under the emotional pressure they face every day. However, this strength does not erase the anxiety, uncertainty, or fears we carry with us daily.
Living with this reality has taught me that fear does not only come from politics; it also shows up in simple things, like speaking my own language or expressing myself in English with my accent. Every word I choose to speak has become my act of bravery and my reminder to keep moving forward, because being of another race, having a different skin color, or coming from a different place does not make us less human nor less deserving of respect and dignity. We are not animals, nor creatures from another world; we are simple human beings with our own history, culture, and dreams. And if I must take risks to achieve my goals, I will—accent and all— with fear and with hope, because my voice, my story, and my future deserve to be heard.