What is your hometown? East Los Angeles, California

What colleges did you attend? Degrees earned? Pasadena City College
CSU Long Beach

What motivated you to go to college? My motivation was to earn my college degree and get a good paying job. Also, I wanted to make my parents proud and have a better future.

Describe your college experience as first-generation. It was a rough beginning. When I attended college there wasn't enough resources for first-generation students. Resources were not widely publicized to the student body. I didn't have the counseling aspect or other services from specialized programs to help me along my college journey. I had to figure out everything myself through trial and error.

What unique challenges did you face? I was a full time student and worked 30+ hours a week to support myself. I couldn't ask my parents for money for college because my father was the only one providing for a family of 6. I learned how to manage my time between attending classes and working. Time management was the key for me.

How did you overcome those challenges? I overcame the challenges I faced by asking other students their experiences and how they received certain services. I had to go to the various departments and ask many questions. I just never gave up.

What did you advise other first-generation students? Attend college and don't give up! Hard work pays off! You can do it!