As an 8-year-old about to cross the border from Mexico into the United States, Jonathan had strict instructions — to pretend he was the son of a family he had never met before. 

 

“I had to make the impression that I was part of their family,” he recalls. “There was a girl about 14 or 15 years old and I had to pass off as her little brother. And, I was successful in the journey.”

 

Originally from Guatemala, Jonathan had traveled with stranger after stranger in order to reunite with his mother, who had previously immigrated to Los Angeles a few years earlier. In a journey that spanned two weeks, Jonathan spent days scared, alone, and longing to go back home. Yet he persisted, and today remembers the kind, compassionate people who comforted him in his journey. 

 

Now majoring in History of Public Policy and Law at UC Santa Barbara, Jonathan recounts his journey, the hardships of learning English, and becoming acclimated to American life. Jonathan believes that the immigrant journey is a difficult one that takes will and strength and must be weighed against achieving success in one’s native country.

 

Jonathan advises those planning to come to America to fulfill their version of the American Dream to be prepared to put in the work as “everyone starts at a different level.” While he acknowledges the hardships of the immigrant experience, he reminds immigrants to have hope and faith and channel it into the strength of their actions.

 

Watch Jonathan’s story below. Click here to read the transcript of Jonathan's video interview.