618 Michael (Mexico, Age 16): English

We arrived immigrants in endless convoys of buses to the central square called Altar, where we expect any of the smugglers, known as "coyotes", they offer help to cross the border between the US and Mexico, immigration officers and people who protect the US border. In one of the streets around the square are many rows of dust covered trucks waiting, like taxis at the airport, to transport migrants to the border, where we begin a dangerous three-day trek through the dangerous desert.

Me, Michael, 13 years old, accepted the offer of a coyote who promised me guide me to a important city in the United States by paying him $ 2,500 dollars. My dad will pay the money, the coyote asked when I get to my destination.

"Turning a dream into reality"

However, for us immigrants like me there is no guarantee that will cross the border, as hundreds of people die each year making this trip. In many cases is women and children who stay without water in the desert. Some are detained by authorities several times before they achieve his goal. Other lose all their things during this dangerous journey. But this is better than you lose you life.

But like many other people migrating to the United States, we are tired of living in a country where you do not have too many opportunities to become someone important. We dream to being someone important in life and sometimes we believe the only way to turn our dream into reality is getting a good education and a good job in the US.

I still remember when the coyote asked me if I was afraid of what might happen to me in the desert, I said with resignation: "Yes, I have fear because I hear that many people die in the desert. But to reach my goal in the United States I have to do all my effort".

My mother tried to convince me to stay in Mexico, but in my country it is very difficult to find a good job and get a better education. "My mother told me it was too dangerous to make this journey" I answered. "But I'll go anyway" .Even if I succeed in my dream, it will be years later so I can go back to see my mother.

The border is safe now so we immigrants have to find new ways to cross the border every time more far than the other. In many cases, we started the trip with less than 10 liters of water we walk long distances in temperatures that often exceed 35 or 40 degrees Celsius.

I was one of the lucky's

We cross!" I said to my mother "happily." I'm calling from a gas station and can only talk for a few minutes ".I explain that me and nine others cross the desert in three days. During the nights we were about to die of hypothermia, but survived.

However, there are many others who travel the same path and they not be as lucky as me. Many children will face the same dangers of the desert due to their hopes of turning their dreams into reality across the border.