At the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester, uncertainty and fear left me in a state of worry. This fear was not just for my own well-being, but also for that of my family.
The thought of being taken away to my birthplace — a place I don’t know, where I couldn’t identify a single street or landmark — really worried me.
As a college senior, my education and future hung in the balance. Doubt for the future invaded me; I feared I wouldn’t be able to finish and earn my bachelor’s degree. But despite my worries, I kept my head held high. My anchor was my faith in God. I truly believed He would guide my family and me through each day.
My final semester was unlike any other. News of police actions and families being taken into immigration custody made it hard to leave the dorm for classes, my internship, or even to enjoy a moment of peace. To avoid putting my family in danger, we didn’t visit each other. It wasn’t worth the risk.
I tried to take care of myself during this time, but it was so hard with the fear of what was happening right outside my door. I was trying to stay aware of the immigration crackdowns to keep my family safe, but it got to the point where the terrible things I was seeing were affecting my mental well-being. That’s when I knew I had to find a different way to cope with all the stress. I want to share how I learned to take care of myself, even when everything feels overwhelming.
Stop Doomscrolling
I was using social media to stay updated with ongoing news, which helps keep me and my family safe. But it got to the point where it was too much negativity, and it started to affect my mental health. Something that helped my mental state was to cut back my time on social media. It took someone close to me reminding me that the things I kept seeing were keeping me from living my daily life in peace.
I had to set a goal to reduce what I saw online. I understand that we use social media to stay aware of breaking news for our security and the security of our loved ones. However, caring for one’s mental state is especially important for one’s well-being. Even if you can’t unplug completely, you can start by setting a daily time limit on the social media apps that cause you the most stress.
Find Peace Through Journaling
With everything I was experiencing, I decided to take on a new hobby to help me process and relax— junk journaling. For me, junk journaling was a creative way to use old papers and everyday things to journal about my day-to-day life. It was a routine that gave me an escape from all the scary news. Doing so kept me away from all that was going on with immigration and the deportations of families. It gave my mind some peace and a place to evolve my creativity.
Taking a break from it all improved my quality of life. It was great to put my energy into something new, productive, and fun. Try picking up a new hobby to find your peace today — like drawing, crafting, or meditation. Give it a try for 15 minutes.
Find Gratitude for the Present
Life lately has reminded me that there are things out of my control that I cannot change. I’ve learned to be okay with letting go and focusing on the present. You have to look at the good things: the people in your life, like family, friends, and mentors. The little things truly matter. Even with the police nearby, I still managed to get to my internship. I gave myself space to feel my emotions and trust that everything would be okay, with God’s will. With the support of my community and family, it wasn’t easy, but I made it through.
Your circumstances might be outside of your control, but how you navigate them is up to you. Right now, take a deep breath and remind yourself of three good things you have in your life that you can be grateful for.
My mentor once told me everybody has their own story. I know my story because I’ve lived it. I use my voice, and ultimately, that is my greatest power. And despite all the uncertainty and risk, nobody can take that away from me. So remember, you all have a voice, so use it wisely. And do not let anybody try to take that away from you, because they can’t.
If you’re seeing the impact of the current climate and want to take action, I want you to know that there are ways to support the immigrant community. If you want to support, consider organizations working in your local community. There are many ways to help — donate and share information with your classmates, and find ways to show up for those in your life who are affected. It can even be as simple as checking in on your friends and neighbors and asking how you can support them.
