At John Jay College, we know that our diversity is our strength. A vital component of that diversity comes from our proud immigrant community. Over 30 percent of the John Jay student population identifies as being an immigrant—a number that balloons if we consider students who are children of immigrants. In an effort to acknowledge, celebrate, and better understand the immigrant experience at John Jay, we’ve created this article series called “An Immigrant Story.” Here, we hope to share the rich, varied, and inspiring journeys of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni from our immigrant community.

When the crime rate began to rise in their native Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Lorena Diaz-Germes’ ’21 parents made a life-changing decision. They would take their small family and immigrate to the United States, leaving behind everything and everyone they knew, in order to provide their two kids with greater educational and life opportunities. It’s a sacrifice Diaz-Germes, a DACA recipient, Honors student, and Criminal Justice major, doesn’t take for granted, and one she knows didn’t come easy for her parents. “Both my mom and dad had a master’s degree, and they were both successful practicing attorneys in Santo Domingo. After moving us to Queens, New York, they had to start over, working minimum wage jobs washing dishes,” recalls Diaz-Germes, who was six years old at the time of the move. “My parents talk about us leaving the Dominican Republic often, but the one thing they never do is show regret over their decision to come to the U.S. They always tell me and my brother how important it was for us to move here. They say, ‘We wanted you and your brother to be in a city filled with opportunity. We wanted better for you.’ Knowing what they gave up, and what we’ve been through collectively, makes me only more determined to succeed academically and in life.”

Learning a New Language
Diaz-Germes remembers her first day in an American classroom like it was yesterday. She entered Ms. Kimberly Richardson’s second-grade classroom in Ozone Park, Queens, feeling bewildered and not knowing any English. “Ms. Richardson was unaware that I didn’t speak a lick of English. She kept telling me, ‘put your bookbag in the closet,’ but I didn’t understand what she was saying. When she realized what was happening, she took it upon herself to make sure I had access to every available resource. She wanted to make sure I was on the same level as my English-speaking classmates,” says Diaz-Germes. “She set me up with an ESL [English as a Second Language] teacher right away. And, she would purposely call on me in class, even when I didn’t raise my hand, because she wanted to push me. Her goal was to make sure that I knew that my voice mattered, and that I was capable of doing good work and being the best in class. It’s because of her that I’m the dedicated, focused, vocal student that I am today.”   

Applying to College
After perfecting her English and excelling in school, Diaz-Germes readied herself for the college experience, but during the application process she realized her road wouldn’t be as smooth as that of her peers. “A group of us were in our college advisor’s office and we were filling out financial aid applications. When it came time to fill out the FASFA form, I realized I needed a social security number. I went home and asked my parents for it, and they told me I didn’t have one,” remembers Diaz-Germes. “In that moment, I thought that was the end of my dream of going to college. I was heartbroken. But my dad told me, ‘You will go to college. Go to a CUNY and we’ll figure out a way to pay for it.’ He really encouraged me to apply and continue pursuing my goals for the future, so I applied to my dream CUNY school, John Jay.”

Getting Help From SEEK
As a SEEK student at John Jay, Diaz-Germes began her freshman year a month earlier than her peers, joining the program’s summer academy where she could acclimate to the college environment, while also working a part-time job. “From the very start of my time at John Jay, everyone at SEEK has been incredibly supportive,” she says. “I remember during the open house for accepted students, I had to log in to a computer using a special login, which included the last four digits of my social security number—which I had just gotten because my DACA status had been approved. Dyncie Valdez, the SEEK Academic Support Educational Coordinator, noticed me struggling and immediately came over to check on me. She kept me calm, walked with me to Jay Express, and stayed with me to make sure I got my login information.” The support extended beyond that first day. Diaz-Germes knew she could rely on Valdez and anyone else on the SEEK team any day of her John Jay journey, turning to them in her most challenging and triumphant moments. “They always had my back and encouraged me to explore all the opportunities available to me,” she says. The level of encouragement was so appreciated, Diaz-Germes decided she wanted to pay it forward by becoming a SEEK peer mentor and helping new students coming to the College. “SEEK may be a small department, but its impact on students is massive. You feel seen and heard by the team. My time at John Jay has been so successful and empowering because of the staff and faculty at SEEK. It’s an incredible program.”

Finding Connections
Walking across the John Jay campus, Diaz-Germes says she felt like she found a second home, surrounded by students who looked like her. “I have never felt out of place at John Jay. The fact we have an Immigrant Student Success Center and that our student body is so diverse is really empowering. I believe one of the College’s greatest strengths is its ability to educate and uplift students from so many different backgrounds.”

In the John Jay Dreamers Club Diaz-Germes found herself deepening her connection to fellow immigrant and undocumented students. “All my life, I’ve had friends, but they were all citizens, so we didn’t connect or get each other on that level. Our experiences were vastly different,” she says, elaborating on how the John Jay Dreamers Club impacted her. “I had never been in a space with students who were undocumented or immigrants, like me. The John Jay Dreamers Club is a space where you don’t have to sugarcoat things, you don’t have to put up a facade. You can be you. There is no judgment. You can speak candidly about your lived immigrant experience in this country. You can be honest about how you got here, the challenges you’ve faced, and they just understand.” Being part of the club, says Diaz-Germes, has given her perspective, showing her how incredible many of her peers are and how fortunate she is. “Many of my undocumented and immigrant peers have had it rough, but they still show up to class, ready to learn so they can make the world a better place. I can’t help feeling inspired by them. And that’s the feeling I come away with after each meeting—pure inspiration.”

Empowering Her Voice
Through her personal lived experience as an immigrant, her parents story, and her friendships and connections at John Jay, Diaz-Germes understands the important role public officials play in helping to uplift immigrant communities. Which is why when the opportunity to intern for John Jay alumnus and former New York State Assemblyman Marcos Crespo ’03 presented itself, Diaz-Germes jumped at the chance. The experience, she says, enabled her to see where real change happens and provided her with a clearer vision of what she wanted for her future. “I was interning with Marcos Crespo and his office was directly across from Catalina Cruz ’05, a John Jay alumna and the first Dreamer elected to the Assembly. It was during this time that they were working to pass the New York State Dream Act,” says Diaz-Germes. “The internship gave me a chance to work with changemakers and to be in the room advocating for my community. To be able to help fight for this Act was life-changing for me. It made me feel like I could do this.” Now, as Diaz-Germes thinks about her final semester at John Jay, she feels empowered and ready to pursue her career goals. “I want to be a lawyer. In a way, it’s to honor my parents and the dreams they gave up in coming here, but it’s also because I want to help those coming after me. My goal is to be an immigration lawyer. And it’s a goal I know I can achieve because of the support I received during my time at John Jay.”