Prop. 308 Impact - Maria León Peña

After graduating high school in 2015, I immediately went to Paradise Valley Community College. As a DACA recipient, I had access to in-state tuition but didn’t qualify for FAFSA or public scholarships. However, I was able to afford higher education by working part-time at a local Barro’s Pizza. I remember proudly paying about $1,000 for my first semester.

During my first two years of college, I was a full-time student earning good grades, mentoring, training in diversity and inclusion, and more. My goal was to become a pediatrician. I looked up to doctors like Patch Adams. I later met him at a healing festival in Phoenix.

The uncertainty of my immigration status became a reality for me when the 2017 presidential administration terminated DACA. With this news, I attended my first Allies training with Aliento. The amount of support I received was healing. Aliento also provided a unique opportunity to drive from Arizona to Washington, DC, in hopes of finding a permanent solution for all Dreamers. We talked to many members of Congress.

That summer, in-state tuition for DACA recipients was challenged by the state. With Aliento, a group of students and I asked for an appeal from the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board. I thank MCCCD for their appeal. However, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled against us because of Prop 300.

This led me to join the inaugural cohort of fellows with Aliento. Together, we launched Arizona's Future Campaign: A campaign dedicated to ensuring all Arizona high school graduates have access to higher education regardless of immigration status. This mission was engraved in my heart because I wanted every high school student to feel as empowered as I did when I first entered community college.

I learned a lot through this fellowship. For instance, I know it takes a village to change a law. Legislators, community members, friends, family, and leaders of all kinds came together to accomplish the campaign’s mission.

Tuition costs so much more at the community college than when I first started. My significant other, also a DACA recipient, was paying almost $5,000 his first semester at the same community college I started. My single mother and I could not afford my college expenses. During this time, I decided to work at a hospital to ensure I used my time wisely because I knew we would get in-state tuition back one day.

After multiple attempts, Prop 308 was finally on the ballot in November of 2022. Being a mom of a beautiful two-year-old, I decided to do some canvassing and phone banking in hopes that it could pass if enough people knew what it meant to us.

After Arizonans passed Prop 308, I immediately started studying for my nursing entrance exam. After four years without school, I passed on the first try. I applied to a competitive program in May. I thought I would have to reapply. Two months later, I was accepted. Prop 308 gave me the confidence to believe in myself again. As a nursing student, I hope to learn how to be the best patient advocate and ally so that one day, I can become the doctor I am meant to become. Not just for me but for every teacher, family, friend, and community member who made me a Dreamer.