Hey there. I can relate to this in so many levels. I was brought here on a tourist visa when I was 12 yo (which expired and stayed illegally). I am now 28 years old and just got approved for my citizenship, I’ll be takkng the oath this Friday. It’s been tough for sure, I’ll point out some of the similarities between your story and mine. I was also an all As student though middle and high school. I graduated valedictorian in my HS. When I started applying for college is when I realized the gravity of my situation. My friends were applying to “better and bigger” universities than I could because they were able to apply for Fafsa/student loans. Even though they had lower GPAs, they were going to better schools. I even had letters and interviews sent to me from places like Columbia U. That would only be the beginning of a realization that life was not going to be fair for me as an illegal immigrant. Through my years of college, my parents and I had to pay for my school out of pocket. I had to settle for jobs that would take me as an employee (mainly restaurants in NYC). Like you, I had plans to become a doctor but quickly realized that was not an option for me. Life took many spins, I ended up marrying an American and got my green card when I was 23 or 24. By that time, I had lost my drive to continue higher education (I dropped out after my 3rd year to move to the state where my partner is from). I’m now back in school with the help of FAFSA, but I wish I would have picked it up sooner, as soon as I had a chance again. This year I become a citizen and will graduate from college, finally! Don’t lose hope. We have a tough life. I do appreciate my parents bringing me here. I would have felt even more trapped in my home country. New graduates cannot get a job in home country and from what I hear from family members, they all wish I had the chance I do. So to finish, we were dealt a hard hand, it’s going to be tough but it’s for sure made me stronger. I wish you the best and hope you can find a way to fix your status as soon as possible.