Editor’s Note: WNMU Student and Student Leader Dayana Baez spoke at the People’s Procession this past weekend. This is a transcript of the speech she gave.
Good afternoon, my name is Dayana Baez, and I am a student at WNMU. I was born in Mexico but raised in Tucson, Arizona for 10 years. For the past two and a half years, I’ve been living in Silver City. I am an undocumented student and with that I only push forward with much more hope and enthusiasm. I have been DACA-mented for the past six years, which means I fall under the DACA program, an executive action signed by President Obama in 2012. His executive order granted work permits and social security numbers to those who qualified. I am also a student leader on campus; I’ve been an Orientation Leader for the past two years and am also the President of the National Society of Leaders and Students at WNMU. I pride myself in my accomplishments, and I only aim to be a great leader so that I can create change, like many of the speakers here today, as well as the community leaders who have come out today.
Off campus, I am a waitress at Adobe Springs, and I’ve spoken with an array of people with different backgrounds and mindsets, which makes for great friendly debates or a simple conversation. In these past two and a half years I’ve enjoyed the inclusiveness in the community. Yes, there are those who will not care to understand why you see things differently and will quickly try to change your mindset, but the majority of this town is not that way. Silver City accepts minorities and doesn’t question or stereotype us. Silver City accepts LGBTQ and supports them in any way possible. Silver City spreads ideas of unity, love, and diversity. That is what the rest of the state of New Mexico. along with the rest of the country should be doing. Spreading the idea that everything different is not a smudge to what America is, but an added sparkle to the rest of what makes us amazing.
I would like to thank Mr. McIntosh for allowing me to speak to you today. I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to stand here with all these other leaders that are working toward amazing things in the community. I would also like to thank WNMU staff for all the help they’ve given DACA students. While I have support on campus, as well as from friends and family, I have to acknowledge that in the future things will not be as smooth as they have been. Myself along with many other minorities may be faced with discouraging events that will make us fearful of those around us. The idea that I may have to leave not only my education and Silver City, but this country as a whole, is the biggest challenge I see in my path for the future. It is a challenge that I am willing to work past, a challenge I am willing to overcome, with others who are in the same situation, as well as those who will share their support. There are so many students, and community member who are DACA applicants just like me, and so many community members who are minorities who may not feel as welcomed in the community as I have.
So take a moment every day to be kind; to share a smile. We don’t have to make a big kind gesture to show people that we accept them for who they are and that they matter. If you feel inclined to help minorities or DACA applicants in our community these coming months, in a way that will impact them more, I am willing to meet with those who do and come up with ideas, as well as finding ways to protect us.
President Lincoln said, “I walk slowly, but I never walk backward,” and that should be how we keep going for these next few months. We may not be able to change everyone’s perspective today, tomorrow or even in three months. But we will not stop fighting for what we want and what we believe in. Because we will never give up.
Thank you for your time.
