When I Thought I Was Dreaming Too Big, My Teachers Reminded Me That College...
I am the Latina daughter of two immigrants. My parents instilled in me from an early age that education was important. When I got older, I realized that a college education would be essential to any...
View ArticleWhen It Comes to College Graduation and Finding a Job, Mentors Make a Difference
I am living proof of the OneGoal motto: “College graduation. Period.” I’m a recent graduate of Southern Illinois University (SIU) of Carbondale where I studied information systems technology. And I...
View ArticleThis Mom and Her Three Kids Graduated College With Support From Their Charter...
When my oldest daughter, Nayeri, started at YES Prep Southeast in Houston, it was hard to leave her old school and her friends. It was challenging to get used to the rigorous academic program. It was...
View ArticleMy Family Didn’t Think We’d Choose a Charter School But It Turned Out to Be...
I never thought I would attend a charter school until my mother decided to enroll me into YES Prep Public Schools in Houston. At the time I didn’t know what a charter school was, but she knew that it...
View ArticleIn Brownsville, Texas, a Pandemic Won’t Stop Students from Learning
The national media rarely focuses on communities like Brownsville, Texas. When they do, border communities are often painted in black-and-white, used as a backdrop to discuss national issues like...
View ArticleCOVID-19’s Impact on First-Generation College Students Is Complicated
As a nonprofit leader and educator who works with college students of African descent, I am intimately aware of how challenging getting through college can be for some students. When COVID-19 hit, I...
View ArticleFirst-Gen Students, The World Needs Us Now More Than Ever
Dear High School and Undergraduate Seniors, I am no expert. This my story, and I hope it is one many of you can relate to and refer to for motivation whenever you’re feeling like giving up. I don’t...
View ArticleClik here to view.
I Almost Gave Up on My Dream of a College Degree But Now I’m Back at School
I wasn’t a typical high school student. Motivation was hard to maintain when much of my environment negatively affected me. So many obstacles and circumstances stood (and still stand) in the path of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reject the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations
(Trigger warning: This essay contains a bleeped, profanity-laced rant that may cause you to question your most deeply held beliefs.) It’s not often I cite vulgar, inappropriate humor to draw attention...
View ArticleI’m a Cambodian Kid From Compton and Because of My Mom, I Graduated From College
As a young man growing up on the East Side of Compton, California, I never quite understood my place in my community or society. I identified as an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), but rarely...
View Article