Education is a “heritage” for the first generation students of the United States

By Diego Rendon, special for Calmatters

This comment was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

The region of the Coachela Valley and the Internal Empire are home to one of the largest Latin American populations in California, but for many high school students here, the college still feels like a foreign country that they do not know how to navigate.

I am a first -generation student who grows in the desert hot springs. In high school, I did not talk to my parents about SAT results, internships, or what the next step of my life would look like during college or after. I still remember at the age of 17, feeling completely overwhelmed by the college financial assistance applications and applied to the college during my senior year, while balancing part-time work to help save money for college.

I didn’t have a roadmap to follow, but I knew I wanted more for my future. That is why I decided to stay local and visit Caltat San Bernardino Palm Campus, the only four -year -old public university of Coachela Valley. This decision changed everything.

I knew I wanted to help others who come from origin like mine, hardworking and full of potential, but they needed guidance and mentoring. In general, my college pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to lift others as I continue to develop.

Through all this, my family has always been my largest motivator. Both of my parents are from Sinaloa, Mexico, and my grandfather had agricultural roots in the imperial valley, dating from the 60s.

My father grew up in a small town called Holtville, California, and today works in the construction of a pool. My mother was a mother at home and a caregiver. They planted in me the value of education and taught me to chase after what I wanted. Growing up, my mother would always say, “La rynica Herencia Que Te Vamos a Dar Es La Educación,” which translates: “The only legacy we will give you is education.”

This remained with me and still drives me to this day.

After moving to the San Bernardino campus, I found a second home. I grew more than I ever imagined.

As president of the student body, I present my peers at CSUSB and I am their voice in various committees and decisions. For example, earlier this year, other students and I traveled to Sacramento to advocate on behalf of the entire system of the California State University.

We have shared with the legislators stories about our travels, our challenges and how much we value our education. We reminded them that we are a real investment in the future of California and with the right support we will continue to build a condition that we continue to call a home.

This trip to Sacramento was just one part of the bigger picture. The rest happens right here at CSUSB, where students continue to face real challenges, such as financial difficulties, long trips, demanding hours and nutritional uncertainty, while giving it the best of it.

They are not just trying to win a degree; They try to leave CSUSB as stronger versions of themselves and be ready to enter the workforce and build a meaningful career. These students are the real backbone of our region, but too often they remain unprecedented.

I see them. There was once time in my college trip when I juggled three different jobs, worked in the student government, in in-out, and served as a leader of orientation. It was not easy, but these experiences taught me sustainability, time management and a sense of gratitude.

There are thousands of students in the Valley of Coachela and the Internal Empire with similar stories, students who are not only the future of California, but those who are currently shaping it.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.