American Dreamer: Sam’s Story

Too often the voices of students go unheard in the highly charged debate around educational access for undocumented immigrant youth. For students who would benefit from the DREAM Act, the ramifications of policy are experienced on a personal level, day-to-day.

Meet Sam

Sam is an 18-year-old high school honors graduate from Elkhart, Indiana, who was brought to the U.S. by his Mexican parents at age five. Sam is one of the 65,000 undocumented students who graduate from U.S. high schools every year. An award-winning jazz saxophonist, this fall he began his freshman year studying music at a local college.

In American Dreamer, created by Long Haul Productions, Sam narrates his own story through words and music, with additional commentary from important people in his life — his family, counselor, band director, and girlfriend. This compelling audio documentary offers an intensely personal perspective on the experiences of undocumented youth as they transition into adulthood and face limitations at every turn.
 
Part 1 of American Dreamer begins with Sam's last few weeks in high school, and concludes as he struggles to figure out how to pay for his first semester of college.

Part 2 follows Sam through the summer, as he begins to realize just how hard it will be to go to college without a job, a driver's license, or any financial assistance.

Part 3 follows Sam through his first year at college, including his experiences at The College Board's Annual Forum in New York City.

The documentary is airing on National Public Radio's Latino USA.