Desire For Higher Education In First-Generation Hispanic College Students

The article “Motivating Firs-Generation Students For Academic Success and College Completion” by Tanjula Petty describes the additional challenges first generation students have to overcome while attending college. A well-heeled diversity and world of opportunities are a few of the positive outcomes of attending college. According to Tanjula Petty (2014), “Yet, the most cited and widely used definition for first- generation students is someone whose parents has not completed a college degree”. Students whose parents did not acquire a college degree, have a lack of support at home. Their family members are not equipped to provide information required for college difficulties students may have. They lack knowledge and resources that students that students with college-educated parents have. The article states that these students are less psychologically prepared for college. Many low-income families do not understand the benefits of graduating from college. First generation students spend more time working and less time studying unlike their classmates. (Petty 2014) Coming from low-income families, many of these students have to divide their time between college and working. Leading students to prioritize money before school. Many work full time while going to school. Working more hours than studying can potentially harm students ' success.

There are many personal satisfactions in live, but getting a college degree must feel really good for a person that has work hard days and nights to achieve that goal. Personal growth that brings to obtain a degree, a dream come true. There are many examples of what student’s sacrifice to obtain this goal like a person who works extra shifts to pay its education, or as a mother at the end of every day after taking care of her family, it’s time for her to do her assignments. And a worker that after a long day of hard work, goes to its evening classes. There are some many students doing this type of

College Education is the end of uphill battle for students. These vital and rigorous educations provide greater opportunities in life. A lot of hardships are

First generation college students are those who are seeking to be the first in their family to earn a degree, according to UCLA. First- generation students can come from low, middle, or high income families without a history of going to college. Families of first generation students can either be supportive of the students plan for a high education or make them feel family pressure to enter the workforce right after high school like they did. First generation students often do not know their options regarding higher education and have fears about going to college and it’s cost. Currently, 42% of UC undergraduates are first generation.

This paper will try to explain the variety of hardships many Mexican-American students endure in hopes to gain a higher education. Many are driven by the “American Dream”, which is the idea that individuals living in the U.S. have the equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and abilities. The American Dream often motivates foreigners to enter the United States illegally, hoping for that “equal opportunity” to success. However, not everyone living in the U.S. has equal opportunities, compared to native-born American citizens. This is why it can be difficult for Mexican-American students to attend colleges and universities. A higher education is difficult to obtain for Mexican-American students because of their low socioeconomic status, their differing cultural and structural characteristics, and the social and political institutions in our current society. Although this paper does not focus on the educational opportunities in Mexico, this paper will mostly focus on the educational system in the United States, particularly California State University, San Bernardino. In addition, this paper will refer to Mexican-American students as first-generation college students.

Throughout my teenage years, I was the embodiment of the average introvert. The pressure to succeed and become a first generation college student in my family was overwhelming, and the constant battle of not being good enough defeated me. My parents only spoke Spanish, and were unable to help me with my school assignments. As I struggled with my academics silently, my self-consciousness and insecurities grew. The fear of speaking out in public was a lingering shadow that developed more, as I grew older. Being that English was my second language, I had always felt inferior to those who spoke English as their primary language.

The current trend in lack of Latina/o students attending college combines a lack of college readiness with a deficiency in resources to prepare this student population. More and more higher education scholars are accepting these deficiencies as roadblocks to college access, and are looking to preparation programs and parent educational resources as a subject worthy of consideration. There are many different challenges being faced by this population, a population that is according to Oliva and Nora, “the fastest growing minority population in the country”(Oliva & Nora, 2004). Research shows that “less than 43% of Hispanic high school students are qualified to enroll in 4 year institutions”(Saunders & Serna, 2004). With the rapid growth in

Although the subject of education, study behavior, has been viewed as a personal matter, we believe race and gender played a role in it. We interviewed a Senior Latino student named Irving Alvisurez. Alvisurez is a first generation college student that came from Los Angeles, California. When he first came to UCSB, he lived in FT and there was only four Hispanics on his whole floor, this gave him more opportunity to expose to foreign cultures and experiencing culture shock. He first majored in computer science and later changed to Chicano studies. As a first generation Latino, he felt more pressure from family rather than social pressures. His statement was supported by the arguments within his family based on his change of majors multiple times,

Parents believe their kids are too young and immature to make a decision by them selves, therefore they pressure their kids into attending college believing it is the best thing for them. The author does not agree with these actions and thinks that students should decide for themselves whether or not they want to continue their education. If students feel that college is not for them, they should not stay there just because somebody expects them to. Furthermore, she states that if everyone got a higher education everybody would be on the same intellectual level, and there would be no difference in people.

The Hispanic population is increasing at rapid rates, thus providing many opportunities to improve the economy and local hispanic communities. However, with the sufficient low rate of hispanic graduates from college our economy are being damaged and hispanic communities are being denied the proper evolution to get out of poverty. Our hispanic youth need to start taking more action into getting a higher education, to help our economy and communities evolve and better themselves. Being a young hispanic, I’ve seen both sides of the rich and poor. Those who mainly live in poverty are those whom don’t have a high education with them. This matters to me because I 've heard and witnessed of all sorrow and suffering poverty brings. Also, it hurts to see we have got such a powerful way of making actual change but we get held back because people think education is too hard, expensive, and a waste of time. If more of our hispanic youth had a higher graduation rate from college then our economy and local hispanic communities would be improved.

The Hispanic population is one of the fastest-growing minority populations in the United States. Despite their growing number and the great strides taken to narrow the academic gap, students learning English as a second language remain among the most educationally disadvantaged groups in the country. Madrid states that, “poor academic achievement of Latino students is indicative of a complex, multifaceted problem that must be addressed because as the Latino student population continues to grow, their poor achievement especially in mathematics and reading has significant implications not only for California’s public educational system, but also for the state’s and nation’s social, political, and economic future.”(2011). Schools across the country, both those that have served Hispanic students for many years and those that have new and growing populations, must take steps to improve the likelihood that Hispanic students reach the same high standards expected of all students.

In the internship, it is observed that families who support their child in the academic process tend to have successful outcomes in their educational pathways. Parents engage in the conversation of their role as a supporter and how they themselves can inspire their child to continue a post-secondary education. Along with this, numerous students have expressed their aspiration towards higher education due to their parents’ support. Many of the Hispanic/Latino youth in GEAR UP have stated the struggles and sacrifices made by their families in migrating to the United States. It serves as a motivator for students to achieve their goals, so they can one day give their parents a better future as well. This implies that students are less likely to commit delinquent behavior if they have an ambition to strive for a better

Although a majority of my family are college graduates from Peruvian universities, few graduated from universities in the United States. A bachelor’s degree has become common ground in my family. I wish to pursue a graduate degree to set a high standard for my future children to follow. My Peruvian and Chicano culture has greatly influenced the value of education. For me education is not just considered to be knowledge, but instead extends to the daily

Latinos make up a quarter of students enrolled in our elementary schools today (Pew Hispanic Center, 2012). Among them lie the engineers, lawyers, scientists, and other professionals of our future. In order to create national leaders that reflect the population of the country, the U.S. must make Latino education policy a priority on the national agenda. For this reason, the most critical issue facing American higher education today is Latino student success and increasing the college degree attainment rates of Latino students.

Education is seen as a vital entry for future success. As an education major, I find this to be interesting because I value education since it trickles into many opportunities in the future. Although education may be a gateway to success, there are obstacles that can affect the outcome of a persons’ future. One main attribute that disturbs the future success of a person is the lack of support held at educational institutions. The success of a students’ attainment of education is not held without support.