Nine years ago, Daniel Padilla Vega wasn’t sure he could even get into college. Today he’s a doctoral resident of occupational therapy at the University of Southern California.
Daniel was born in Mexico and brought to the United States as a 6-year-old child. Growing up in Van Nuys, he thought of himself as a regular kid. But as he entered high school and saw friends get driver’s licenses, part-time jobs, and applying to college, Daniel began to realize that things would not be as easy for him.
“At every turn I would see some type of obstacle, whether it’s not being able to get a work permit or a license, and started to feel like I didn’t have a future,” Daniel recalls. “I almost closed the door on myself. I didn’t think it was even possible for someone like me to go to college.”
With the help of his history teacher and a neighbor, Daniel applied and got into Cal State Northridge, where he eventually majored in kinesiology. He realized he wanted to press on with his education and was accepted into USC’s graduate program in occupational therapy. But as an undocumented student, Daniel did not qualify for federal aid. He also quickly realized that private loans had exorbitant interest rates and lending requirements, such as co-signers with high incomes and a legal status, which he couldn’t meet.
Daniel turned to CSU Northridge’s DREAM Center, which told him about Immigranted. Since then, the interest-free loans he has received have allowed Daniel to focus on school and completing the rigorous training required. He plans to complete his postdoctoral program in August.
“Receiving the loans from Immigranted was the backbone to my education,” says Daniel. “When I would hit a wall, I would reach out to the organization and every time, they were able to help me in some way.”
Since starting USC, Daniel has had a wide variety of on-the-job experiences, including working with the mentally ill on Skid Row, at an inpatient mental health hospital, and currently, at a neighborhood clinic where he helps patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension improve their quality of life. Many times Daniel is one of only a couple or the only occupational therapist who speaks Spanish, a fact appreciated by his monolingual clients.
Padilla’s goal is to become a clinician and professor of occupational therapy, as well as open a clinic that provides both mental health services and occupational therapy to teens and adults. And he wants other Dreamers to know that despite the challenges, they can achieve their goals.
“Focus on what you can control and never give up,” he says. ““Even when it feels like there is no way forward, there is always some way forward.”