Post by University of California, Berkeley

"Four years ago, I arrived in the U.S. alone at 18 years old. In Peru, my mom and dad were starting over after selling our family house to gamble on my education and shipping me to the U.S. Ahead of me was a brutal path of extreme financial insecurity, skipped meals, and learning a new language all alone. Both of my parents have worked blue-collar jobs in Peru for over 25 years — my mom in a supermarket and my dad as a bus driver. We never had money, we could barely afford high school, and higher education seemed like an impossible dream. But we chose to take an insane leap of faith, sold our only house, and bet everything we had just for me to be here. Being an international student alone in the U.S. with zero safety net was a pure test of survival. I started at Diablo Valley College in 2022, and the financial strain was heavy. Because I couldn't legally work off-campus and money was tight, there were periods where I stayed in shelters, shared a small room with a lot of people, and went weeks stretching every penny. I had to master English on the fly while balancing four jobs on campus and studying full-time, just to try to pay for basic needs. I transferred to Berkeley in 2024, and that changed everything for me; this university gave me opportunities I never imagined. I gained financial aid support from the International Office, from EECS scholarships that allowed me to attend professional conferences, and from emergency loans that helped cover my rent. I just turned 23 and recently secured a full-time role as a hardware engineer. When I called my mom in Peru to tell her the news, we cried a lot; we knew the many years of distance and struggle would be worth it. I just graduated a little over 2 weeks ago. I hope my story can encourage students who are struggling right now. For anyone who believe college or opportunities like these are impossible for people like them: no dream is truly impossible. Trust yourself, and never let the fear of a difficult beginning stop you from achieving an extraordinary end. It's been 4 years since I last went back home. I miss my family a lot. I hope I see them again soon." – Sebastian Silva '26 #UCBerkeley #CalGrad