Sarahi Hernandez has never stopped planning for the future — even when her days looked more uncertain than most.
As a child who was afraid that one day after school she might get home to find her parents missing — deported — she kept the fear at bay.
During her junior year in high school, when she discovered she couldn’t apply for federal aid to continue her education, she was devastated. But she still planned for college.
“I was always aware of the fact that I was undocumented,” Hernandez said. “But it was really hard when I started realizing what it meant.”
The 22-year-old said planning is paying off.
Hernandez was one of eight students to graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver in December as an ASSET student — a label given to those benefiting from a new tier of tuition for students who live in Colorado but are in the country illegally.
“I remember the day we saw the new tuition rate,” Hernandez said. “We cried.”
She was brought to Denver by her family when she was less than a year old. But because of her legal status, she started college paying out-of-state tuition.
Unable to qualify for most financial aid, Hernandez worked odd jobs — mostly baking cakes or babysitting — between her full course load every semester.
In fall 2012, Metro was the for students without legal status but who had graduated from a school in Colorado.
The state legislature (Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow) to grant students such as Hernandez in-state tuition at all public colleges and universities a year later.
Metro has graduated 15 students who have taken advantage of the ASSET bill. Hernandez has a bachelor’s degree in human services with an emphasis on high-risk youths.
This semester, 326 students enrolled at the college were classified as ASSET students, far higher than the 52 enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado, 26 at Colorado State University, 29 at the University of Colorado Denver and 27 at CU-Boulder.
Some of those students have been able to get temporary protected status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, but for others, the use of their degree after college is still uncertain.
For now, Hernandez is working full time in Denver Public Schools as a paraprofessional at College View Elementary — the school she and her younger brother attended as children.
Nikki Brown, the teacher who runs the classroom Hernandez works in, says Hernandez “is amazing. I never want her to leave.”
But whether Hernandez will be back at College View next year is uncertain.
Hernandez’s application to renew her deportation deferral through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is being processed. If approved it could grant her a quasi-legal status for three years.
Hernandez also has plans to return to school for a master’s degree.
“There’s always uncertainty,” Hernandez said. “I still believe immigration reform is on its way. But even if that status isn’t there, I’ve always been capable of moving forward. It’s still not limiting me.”
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372
Taking assets
Students enrolled under the Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow law at public Colorado universities this semester:
Metro State
326
Northern Colorado
52
CU-Denver
29
CU-Boulder
27
Colorado State
26
