--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned at a very young age that my…" description: "\"I learned at a very young age that my parents were undocumented.\" — Diane Guerrero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg" --- # I learned at a very young age that my parents were… ![“I learned at a very young age that my parents were undocumented.” quote by Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg) > “I learned at a very young age that my parents were undocumented.” [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning about undocumented parents early shapes identity and fuels advocacy for immigrant rights. **In simple terms:** Undocumented parents shape identity and activism. Key Takeaway Use personal history to champion immigrant justice. Themes identity immigration activism Mood determined empathetic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - public speaking Key Concepts social justice family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does your family history influence your work? - What actions can allies take for undocumented families? A Different Perspective Personal trauma may hinder activism if not processed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-parents-656543/) [Learned Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-young-623911/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Undocumented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-undocumented-3423887/) [Undocumented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undocumented/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-age/) ## Related quotes > [I think your musical tastes are largely shaped at a young age by your parents, as they're in charge of what's on in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-levine/i-think-your-musical-tastes-are-largely-shaped-at-a-young-age-by-your/) [Alice Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-levine/) > [I think everything starts with a mindset, and I learned that from a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-landry/i-think-everything-starts-with-a-mindset-and-i-learned-that-from-a/) [Jarvis Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-landry/) > [I realized - and I think I learned this at a young age - that anything that's worth anything, you're going to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-realized-and-i-think-i-learned-this-at-a-young-age-that-anything/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [“Yes, Taylor learned at a very young age that the only way to get boys to shut up and play fairly was to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/yes-taylor-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-the-only-way-to-get-boys/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [I learned from a very young age that if I pursued the things that truly excited me, that they would reward in more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/i-learned-from-a-very-young-age-that-if-i-pursued-the-things-that/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [When you're the child of undocumented immigrants, you learn to keep your mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/when-you-re-the-child-of-undocumented-immigrants-you-learn-to-keep/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [My father, who worked as a dishwasher, was especially anxious. He did not like being here undocumented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/my-father-who-worked-as-a-dishwasher-was-especially-anxious-he-did/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I went through depression, which is something that we don't often talk about when we look at undocumented communities and deported families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-went-through-depression-which-is-something-that-we-don-t-often-talk/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [A child needs to be listened to and talked to at 3 and 4 and 5 years of age. Parents should not wait for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-keeshan/a-child-needs-to-be-listened-to-and-talked-to-at-3-and-4-and-5-years/) [Bob Keeshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-keeshan/) > [As we age, we become our parents; live long enough and we see faces repeat in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/as-we-age-we-become-our-parents-live-long-enough-and-we-see-faces/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What does not wasting time change! The age of our parents, worse than that of our grandsires, has brought us forth more impious still,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/what-does-not-wasting-time-change-the-age-of-our-parents-worse-than/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“At a certain age our parents offhandedly start telling us things we’ve never heard before, about themselves and their families, their upbringing and history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kreider/at-a-certain-age-our-parents-offhandedly-start-telling-us-things-we/) [Tim Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kreider/) > [Mom:I wish I was as pretty as you when I was your age! Parents Friends:How many boys do you have chasing after you now?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-i-wish-i-was-as-pretty-as-you-when-i-was-your-age-parents-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At a certain age your parents seem like the most embarrassing thing on the whole entire planet, and you want to be nowhere near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/at-a-certain-age-your-parents-seem-like-the-most-embarrassing-thing/) [Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/) > [You know, more children die under the age of five when the parents are not educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/you-know-more-children-die-under-the-age-of-five-when-the-parents-are/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) ## More by Diane Guerrero > [I so desperately wanted to fit in. There was a trajectory, and obviously, our society tells us that you go to high school, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-so-desperately-wanted-to-fit-in-there-was-a-trajectory-and/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I worked a variety of jobs in retail and at coffee shops all through high school. And, though I was surrounded by people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-worked-a-variety-of-jobs-in-retail-and-at-coffee-shops-all-through/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I've experienced colorism in that way: where if you're lighter, then you'll potentially be accepted into society better than if you were darker-skinned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-ve-experienced-colorism-in-that-way-where-if-you-re-lighter-then/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Once I started advancing in my career, I stopped wanting to hide from my reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/once-i-started-advancing-in-my-career-i-stopped-wanting-to-hide-from/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Since when is it good to separate a family?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/since-when-is-it-good-to-separate-a-family/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Every day, children who are U.S. citizens are separated from their families as a result of immigration policies that need fixing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/every-day-children-who-are-u-s-citizens-are-separated-from-their/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I think despite what we've seen on TV, people like seeing women and knowing about women's stories and their struggles and their truth. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-think-despite-what-we-ve-seen-on-tv-people-like-seeing-women-and/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [People like seeing people being human and real, and I think that's been lacking on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/people-like-seeing-people-being-human-and-real-and-i-think-that-s/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [My parents have always been very honest with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/my-parents-have-always-been-very-honest-with-me/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I feel like you can't really be truthful as an artist and empathize with the human experience, unless you know your truth and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-feel-like-you-can-t-really-be-truthful-as-an-artist-and-empathize/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [While awaiting deportation proceedings, my parents remained in detention near Boston, so I could visit them. They would have liked to fight deportation, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/while-awaiting-deportation-proceedings-my-parents-remained-in/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I want to be viewed like a serious actress, and I'm afraid that people are just going to see me as the poor little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-want-to-be-viewed-like-a-serious-actress-and-i-m-afraid-that-people/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I went through depression, which is something that we don't often talk about when we look at undocumented communities and deported families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-went-through-depression-which-is-something-that-we-don-t-often-talk/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I don't know why I was lucky enough to have people in my community take me in. To be able to continue school. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-don-t-know-why-i-was-lucky-enough-to-have-people-in-my-community/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) [Explore all 120 Diane Guerrero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned at a very young age that my parents were undocumented.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diane Guerrero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-parents-were-undocumented/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-parents-were-undocumented/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/diane-guerrero-3891_age_i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-pa_1175266.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned at a very young age that my parents were undocumented.” — Diane Guerrero", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Diane Guerrero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned at a very young...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-parents-were-undocumented/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-learned-at-a-very-young-age-that-my-parents-were-undocumented/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```