Ruben Mercado Santos realized he was 鈥渄ifferent鈥� in high school.
When his friends were getting their driver鈥檚 licenses and registering to vote, he couldn鈥檛. After living in South Florida since he was 5, the Honduras native began to realize what it meant to be an undocumented immigrant in the United States.
鈥淭here are times where you aren鈥檛 judged for your talents or abilities at first, instead you鈥檙e judged for your status,鈥� the 22-year-old says. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 control the challenges that come with your legal status, but you can try to find what opportunities are available to you.鈥�
Finding a Way
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration policy that allows individuals who meet several key guidelines and were brought to the U.S. as children to avoid deportation, was created in 2012.
DACA students, 鈥� also known as DREAMers 鈥� like Mercado Santos, have no access to federal aid, limited access to state aid, and in some cases must pay out-of-state tuition for college. With the goal of becoming a physician one day, he knew that he had to find a way to pay for school without creating further financial burdens for his older sister and mother, who were already working hard to provide for his family.
鈥淭he degree may have my name, but in reality it is awarded to all three of us.鈥�
So he sought help from a high school advisor who encouraged him to apply for a scholarship from TheDream.US, the nation鈥檚 largest college access and success program for DREAMers. Through a partnership with 麻豆原创, the organization has provided funding for Mercado Santos鈥� tuition, along with a small stipend for books 鈥� and now he鈥檚 days away from earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淚 attended 麻豆原创s Grad Walk a few weeks ago, and when I walked across the stage 鈥� it was a culmination of all the sacrifices my mom and sister have made for me,鈥� the biomedical sciences major says. 鈥淭he degree may have my name, but in reality it is awarded to all three of us.鈥�
Building a New Life
The sacrifices became necessary when his estranged father, a businessman, began receiving death threats and eventually a murder attempt from local gangs back in his home country. His mother, who was working in a pharmacy, feared they may be next and decided to seek safety in the United States.
Although Mercado Santos says his family had a comfortable life in Honduras, he remembers feeling like anything was possible when they moved to South Florida. At first, family members who were already living here helped him, his mother and sister get by. Eventually the three of them were able to get their own place but it wasn鈥檛 until Mercado Santos鈥� arrival at 麻豆原创 that he had his own room for the first time in his life. Although it was difficult to be away from his family, he knew he was serving a greater purpose.
鈥淢y mom always wanted to pursue a career like being a doctor,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen we moved she said, 鈥業 brought you here so you can be what I wanted to be,鈥� and my sister told me she would make sure I have everything she didn鈥檛 鈥� and it鈥檚 true.鈥�
Now each of them has their own residence and car, and his 26-year-old sister, who put off college so he could pursue his dreams first, will be starting her own collegiate journey soon.
鈥淚 always thought America was a place of opportunity 鈥� if you work hard you get what you want and in many instances that鈥檚 true,鈥� Mercado Santos says.
Striving for His Best
Given the difficult circumstances he grew up with, the desire to help others is a major driving force in Mercado Santos鈥� life, from why he wants to be a doctor to why he鈥檚 spent hundreds of hours volunteering with Service and Love Together at 麻豆原创 and Hearts for the Homeless 鈥� two student organizations committed to serving underserved communities.
鈥淚 like helping homeless individuals because that could have easily been me when I moved here to the States 鈥� it was hard,鈥� he says.
He鈥檚 also a dedicated member of Pre-Med American Medical Student Association and has spent hundreds of hours shadowing local doctors and volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at a clinic.
鈥淚t hits home being in rooms with patients who don鈥檛 speak English, so to be able to communicate their needs and issues to healthcare providers is one way I鈥檓 proud to help others,鈥� Mercado Santos says.
He鈥檚 contributed to cancer research in assistant professor of medicine Wencai Zhang鈥檚 lab, gaining hands-on experience, knowledge and inspiration for his studies.
鈥淚t is pleasant working with Ruben and he really cares for others,鈥� Zhang says. 鈥淗is creativity in research surged when he published his second paper while volunteering in my lab. I expect great success for him in the future.鈥�
鈥淲hen I came to 麻豆原创 I didn鈥檛 have to worry about if I was welcomed or liked here 鈥� 麻豆原创 has never treated me differently in terms of status.鈥�
Although he isn鈥檛 sure about the specific field of medicine he wants to pursue, Mercado Santos knows the type of doctor he wants to be 鈥� kind, compassionate and willing to help those who may not have access to affordable healthcare, since he says he knows what it鈥檚 like to not be able to get medical care.
As he prepares for his next chapter, attending medical school, he is more grateful than ever for the support that got him this far.
鈥淲hen I came to 麻豆原创 I didn鈥檛 have to worry about if I was welcomed or liked here 鈥� 麻豆原创 has never treated me differently in terms of status,鈥� Mercado Santos says. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the same access to opportunities as any other student, which has allowed me to focus on being the best pre-med student now to later be the best physician in the future. I can just be who I want 鈥� the good person my mom tells me to be and the hardworking person my mom has inspired me to be.鈥�
