Latinos in college or that have graduated from college the United States growing large in numbers. On August 20th the Pew Hispanic Center released their report "Now Largest Minority Group on Four-Year College Campuses:Hispanic Student Enrollments Reach New Highs in 2011". It makes me so hapy to hear that more Latinos are going to college and getting a higher education, but I also wonder if we are moving up in education as fast as we are increasing in population?
My questions continue,
however. How many of the Latinos (1 in 6 students in college-see infographic above) are
attending a community college? I know that the majority of
Latinos attend community college. This year, the California-based Campaign for College Opportunity reported that only 14% Latino students transfer to four-year
universities,
compared to 28% of white students. They also found that although
Latinos ages 18-24 represent nearly half of the California's college-age
population they are underrepresented at four -year colleges.
There are many of the factors that are intertwined and delay students from transferring and graduating with a college degree. Latinos are more likely to be of low-income and they have to work, sometimes full-time positions; also they are likely
be the first in their families to go to college, they do not fully
understanding the complex system of education. It's not as easy as
non-Latinos, excluding African Americans, may think.
As
for me, my college career wasn't that easy. It took me 5 years to
finally get out of Cerritos College. There were a few of points in my
journey there where I thought that there was no way and I'd be there
forever--I could just not see transferring out. Eventually, though, with
the help and support of my family, and the advice and guidance from
people (who I now know could have been called "mentors" and of course,
my hardword and tencaity I finally transferred to UCI!
Back when I was at UCI I barely fit the
18-24 age range (based on the info graphic above) at the university. I already was 23 by the time I
transferred and boy, I felt old! After 4 years (instead of just 2!) at
UCI I finally graduated with a bachelor's in Psychology, which I loved.
My educational experiences have not been traditional in any shape of
form. My experiences are unique and I've learned so much on my way.
Today, I am struggling with my thesis to get my M.S. degree and
graduate!
So
one of my life's goals is to motivate Latino/as to go to college and be
empowered. Little by little we're changing the face of America and we
must continue to be persistent and tenacious in pursuing our dreams in
this country.
Love,
Sources: http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/08/20/iv-college-graduation-and-hispanics/
http://www.saludtoday.com/blog/
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_20558282/latino-college-students-long-beach-struggle-graduate-college
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