<p>Here is a powerfully moving story from the Wall Street Journal regarding a Princeton senior, Dan-el Padilla Peralta. The article can be accessed through the Wall Street Journal website and I encourage all to do so. Youll be glad you did. Abandoned by his father and homeless, Mr. Padilla had the courage and strength to rise above adversity and get to Princeton, receiving a scholarship from the University in order to attend. He has now become part of the national debate over immigration issues. His personal story is one of singular triumph in a nation struggling to find a societal consensus on these thorny issues.</p>
<p>The story appears on page A1 of the print edition from April 15th. The online edition must be purchased. In conformity with copyright protection rules, I can only provide the following excerpt:</p>
<p>Dan-el Padilla beat poverty and homelessness to become a star student. He still may have to leave the country.
By MIRIAM JORDAN
April 15, 2006; Page A1 </p>
<p>Dan-el Padilla Peralta, a 21-year-old classics major at Princeton University, has risen from a childhood in homeless shelters and blighted apartments to maintain a 3.9 grade-point average. He has won prize after prize, often taking twice the typical course load. One faculty member, writing a recommendation, predicted "he will be one of the best
classicists to emerge in his generation." </p>
<p>Mr. Padilla stands out at Princeton for another reason: He's an illegal immigrant. And two weeks ago, he did something few people in his shoes ever do. He turned himself in.</p>
<p>"Mr. Padilla stands out at Princeton for another reason: He's an illegal immigrant. And two weeks ago, he did something few people in his shoes ever do. He turned himself in."
--> simply, wow. So what's happened to him? Is he still at Pton?</p>
<p>Yes, he is still at Princeton. He'll graduate with honors and has won a two year scholarship to Oxford. Apparently he's receiving much support. He's an amazing person.</p>
<p>This student has long wowed students on campus just for his talents, even though they didn't know a thing about his story. In fact, when I first heard of his achievements I thought they were being exaggerated! Not so...</p>
<p>Notice how in the Prince article it says that Princeton's no-loans policy made it possible for Dan-el to attend, because he didn't need to apply for a Federal loan.</p>
<p>not just with honors, Dan-el's been named the salutatorian for our class. the formal announcement won't be made for another few days but it's already been decided.</p>
<p>Ted Kaczynski - very proficient in advanced mathematics. And while we are being so liberal with impunity we should probably let this amazing person out of jail.</p>
<p>cybernigel, your statement makes little sense. Ted Kaczynski, by the standards of academia, was amazing. socially, he wasn't. i don't know what makes a person good or bad (he was fighting for what he believed in), but that's irrelevant.</p>
<p>the comments on this board are directed toward dan-el because we are in awe of his accomplishments, given his humble beginnings. liberal with impunity? the rational man is liberal with consideration and conservative with acceptance. i think we are doing the same. should we condemn him because he is illegal? i don't see why. he came to the united states as a child with little choice. he was brought up here, and i think he should be allowed to graduate, outside a "legalistic" structure.</p>
<p>basically, cybernigel is pointing out that padilla broke the law by being an illegal immigrant... and the user is stating that it's no different.</p>
<p>in any case, i think it's a shame US citizens don't get free tuition. the military academics, in some respects, are MUCH MORE prestigious and generous when they come to the subject of tuition... it's free</p>
<p>One can only hope the publicity around Padilla will go a long way toward humanizing the many talented and hardworking Americans whom our country needs but who were not fortunate enough to be born here themselves. Perhaps Padilla's story can be a counterweight--if ever so small--to the frenzied racism and hysteria that have overtaken our country.</p>