Statement Of Purpose: A First Generation Chicana Student

As a freshman college student I did not expect that through a fulfillment of graduation requirements, I would stumble across this particular Latino studies curriculum. When I registered for this course my mind was just focused on the fact of attending and perhaps learning a thing or two about my heritage. I also expected to find myself in a position of easy success for this course, and while I believe that I was quite successful, it was not as simple as I projected. The reason behind some of the challenges that I faced were because, unlike most college courses were students are just mindlessly completing homework assignments or writing essays for the purpose to be critiqued, this course engaged emotion and made the students truly immerse themselves

Growing up as a Latino in a community where most of the population are Hispanic had made me blind, detached from the reality of the world and the reality of the college experience, especially in Santa Cruz. Looking at the world I have always known to an extent who had more privilege than others, special attention, and more rights. I have also vaguely known which groups have been treated with less respect seen as less, but all of this didn’t really seem to matter to me in my immediate world. Coming to Santa Cruz on trips such as ORALE and JUSTICE has made me see, made me realize that it does affect me, my family, and my community that privilege is something that isn’t gifted to us but which we fight for, which causes us to be looked at differently

My freshman year at Texas State University was highlighted by making the Dean’s List, receiving the Outstanding Freshman Award, and getting a Resident Assistant position that I am currently fulfilling as I apply to the University of Texas at Austin. Everything I have ever done is tied in with my lifelong goal of being employed by the elite group of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and it all starts at the University of Texas. I have never wanted anything more in my life than to attend this prestigious university where I feel confident that I will be challenged both academically and culturally. I can attest that I will exhibit fidelity, bravery, and integrity inside and outside of the classroom. I know my commitment to academic achievements will go a long way in helping me achieve my ultimate goal, and that is attending UT and representing the Latino population through a strong and steadfast academic commitment to success. I am prepared to overcome any hardships and obstacles that I may encounter.

Dreams are shaped by ideals and families shape the beliefs we grasp strongly. The sacrifices and struggles of my family and I are what have shaped me to be the person I am today, therefore i have dedicated my path as a first generation Hispanic student to my family.

As a first-generation Latina in college, I could not be where I am without the help of multiple individuals. My parent’s sacrificed so much coming into this country. They left behind their family, their home, in order to one day provide a better future for me. Initially, my parents planned on staying in America for five years then they would go back to Ecuador. However plans changed once my mom became pregnant with me. The decision to stay in order to give me the best future possible greatly affected both my parents. They suffer greatly and lament leaving their family everyday. Only my mom has the slight possibly of returning to her home country but unfortunately, the only thing waiting her is her mother’s grave.

Young Chicana women typical expectations are to follow the parents’ rules. In the films “Mosquita Y Mari” and “Real Women have curves”, the young Chicana women resist these gender cultural norms. The resistance of these gender norms is not a challenge to others but away to voice the opinion that I am my own person and not somebody else.

Welcome, I am honored, as a young first generation Latina, to be speaking in front of you. Although there are stereotypes toward young Latina woman such as myself, I knew that anything was possible which brings me here today. I am not here to talk about myself but rather the future especially our future. A future where I envision that technology has advanced extremely but fear that our human interaction and compassion will be decreasing.

Freshman year during my lunch period, I had decided to participate in technology squad to assist those unfamiliar with software applications such as PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs. Also I was responsible to assign laptops out to students who needed them. When I heard of EMT Club, I automatically joined because I wanted to learn more on what it takes to become an EMT. I handed out candy grams to raise money for the ambulance corps and got to listen to current medical technicians that provided an overview of their responsibilities. In addition I attended a first aid class and got certified, so I can lend a helping hand in an emergency. Outside of school in the Fair Lawn Jewish Center Religious School, I helped students learn the hebrew alphabet and planned activities that would keep them engaged.

Winning the title as Miss Hispanic Delaware helped me find my passion. I got the opportunity to intern as a host for a bilingual TV show called “Que Bien.” Que Bien allowed me to grow and gain the confidence that I was missing and embrace my Hispanic culture. Through Que Bien, I got to travel to different cities in the Delmarva and Philadelphia area. I also got the chance to interview politicians, Latino and American music artist, and citizens from the area. From that point on I discovered my passion for television. Once I got accepted to the University of Alabama all I wanted to study was broadcasting. As a first generation student attending a University was already a dream. However, due to financial reasons my parents encouraged me to join

Throughout my life as a child and teenager, I was told by my parents that they worked really hard to get to the safe town and community that we lived in. Growing up in Pacific Grove, California gave me lots opportunities that I didn’t even know I obtained. Unless it had happened to me personally, I didn’t really understand the full picture of what others had to go through. Having dyslexia, the only subject I felt I really excelled in was art. After high school, I still had no idea what I wanted to do for a career or even a major. Monterey Peninsula College has boosted my confidence by showing me that I can be and do much more. Two years ago I would never have guessed that I would be applying to the University of Washington.

Being a latino in the U.S had been and still is the reason for suffering discrimination against one's aspirations and goals in life. Not only that but as an ESL life was far from being the American Dream most people come to this country looking for. The truth is that for those that had not escape from the category of ESL, prejudice will be a stigma that would follow them through high school and life. From these tumultuous waters I rose. Expectations were low and many assume that I was either stupid or incapable to compete with my classmates. My attitude and determination were the floating devices for my sicking life.

As a Bruin Ambassador, I go to local high schools, college fairs, and on-campus events to represent UCLA, motivating high school students to apply to college and pursue a higher education. It is such a rewarding experience to work with students and to help them make UCLA their reality, especially alongside fellow Bruin Ambassadors. We work as a team with the same goal of inspiring students--particularly first generation--to pursue a higher education. Bruin Ambassadors support each other in navigating tough questions, comments, and inquiries we get from students, parents, and counselors about race, class, and wealth in regards to education when we attend college fairs and events together. It is rewarding to craft sophisticated answers that are

Growing up my family had little to no money. My parents, immigrants from El Salvador, worked two jobs each. Home was a small space with a conjoined kitchen and living room. When Mom and Dad first arrived to America, they never imagined a child of theirs would become a university student. Coming to America itself was in their wildest dreams. To them, an education of that level was unattainable. Now, I represent my family wherever I go. I am at TWU for my family and for my dreams. One day, I will be the Nurse Practitioner I always envisioned. But more importantly, I will give my parents and my grandmother everything they never had. Now that I am older I comprehend the magnitude of their sacrifices. When I hear the name Texas Woman’s University,

Having chosen the University of Southern California (USC) over the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as the institution to continue my educational pathway has always brought up curious questions as to why I chose one over the other. Aside from the academic stance of both institutions there were always inevitable comments about how much better the area surrounding UCLA is compared to the sketchy area surrounding USC. Having attended Foshay Learning Center about two miles from USC gave me front insight of how beautiful that area actually is despite the dark allegations. I manage to respond to those stereotype influenced notions with my high school that is actually full of hardworking underprivileged minorities striving for further higher education.

My primary motivation to participate in GiGS arises from a desire to encourage and support students from underrepresented groups that are considering a graduate education and to help them perceive graduate school as an attainable goal. As a STEM graduate student of color, I am saliently aware of the many challenges facing people of color, particularly with access to people or mentors who can provide information and advice on preparing and applying for graduate school. Since neither of my parents ever attended graduate school, much of the process was new to both me and my family. “Simple” things such choosing which labs to work in during your undergraduate career, or knowing when or where to sign up for the GRE was challenging due to the lack