College of Southern Nevada -

Growing up I saw surrounded by stories of how my father seized every opportunity that he was presented with. He always made sure I remembered the one man that made all of his dreams come true Ronald Reagan. During Ronald Reagan’s Presidency he declared an amnesty that allowed my father to become a citizen and later allowed my mother to become one as well. This simple fact has always made me grateful for the struggles my parents faced to ensure that my birthplace would be the United States. My parents were not able to finish their schooling, I could see that it took a toll on them when I needed help with my homework and they seemed at a loss for words on how to guide me. I promised my parents at an early age that I would be the first in my family to attend college. Through all of the trials and tribulations I have had to face I am proud to say that I came through. I now realize that I want a career that will allow me to help others in my community by giving them the resources they need to succeed. I will one day become a politician that is not corrupt. I will become a strong leader like the ones I grew up admiring.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas -

College of Southern Nevada -

College has always been a doubt for me. I always thought that experience came before education, always; however, I recently learned that this is not always the case.  Education is the most valuable gift we can give to ourselves. Throughout this past summer, I came to realize that maybe I do want to be somebody important in life. I am currently majoring in Secondary Education at CSN and I love it! It’s the satisfaction of doing something for myself and to also know that one day I’ll be the person to influence a young person’s life that keeps me motivated.Whether it’s a community college, a state college, or a university, higher education should be something on every student’s mind. With education, I believe we can all move forward together.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas -

Hi everyone, my name is Eric Cardona and I am 20 years old. I am a junior at UNLV majoring in Economics with a background in Political Science. I want to apply to and graduate from law school to become a lawyer.   I decided to go to college not only because it opens doors for opportunities, but also because I saw how much my parents struggled with 2 minimum wage jobs each. They wouldn’t have enough time for their children and they would arrive home exhausted and stressed every day. At times they would ask me if I wanted the same life for my kids,and once I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to. Pursuing a higher education is the only way that I can escape poverty. I used to think that attending college was a privilege that not everyone had, but now I believe that anyone who sets their minds to anything can accomplish any task in life, especially if they want to go to college.  There are several scholarships available and many companies who are willing to help people go to college, and for this reason, I encourage everyone to pursue a career and obtain a degree.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas -

One of my earliest memories is of my little sister and I playing “school,” and I knew then that I needed to go to college. Luckily, my parents have done nothing but support me and my goals, whether they included internships, volunteer work, or anything else. It was extracurricular activities such as DECA and the National Honor Society chapter at my school that shaped me into the driven person that I am today. I will soon be working towards an undergraduate degree in hospitality services at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and I’m proud to say that I’m the first in my family to go to college after starting this fall. Without a doubt, I’ll have many obstacles along the way, and there will definitely be times in which I will doubt myself, but the beauty in all of this is that any journey such as this one requires us to experience life to the fullest and use only exceptional efforts to keep pressing towards our dreams.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas -

As a child I’ve always aspired to become something big, someone important, or someone notable for generations to come. I firmly believe that going to college is the first step in achieving this dream because of the doors that are opened after achieving a higher education. Coming from a Latino family with only one graduate from college, I want to make myself into someone people would be proud of. My parents struggled through poverty to bring me the best life possible so that I may succeed. I wish only to provide happiness to my family and others by achieving my goal. College has always been a touchy subject because of costs but I firmly believe the cost is worth the reward. College fits me because it is the gateway to a greater life in that I am given the ability to study and become what I like through college. Many people who come from low income families believe that college is a luxury that they cannot afford but the fact is everyone can go if they try. Scholarships, financial aid, and grants all provide enough money for everyone to go to college. I, myself, struggle with money for college but it isn’t stopping me from going to college. My motivation is my family and my friends who believe I can aspire to be something big and I will not let them down. College is the perfect way for me to prove my worth and to reward my family for their struggle to make me who I am today. I am a hard worker and colleges demand hard work and dedication which I can provide. I am focused and prepared to tackle the obstacles that come with going to college but it is all in the name of achieving my goals and becoming a successful role model for others. To me, going to college is the ability to make the impossible possible which is why college is a good fit for me, I will and can make the impossible possible. I will become successful and I will go to college in order to become successful.

College of Southern Nevada -

Education has never been an option for me, but a privilege. With my mom, it was never “Are you going to college?” but rather “What are you going to study in college?” Both of my parents came to the U.S. from Mexico at a very young age, and due to family circumstances, were unable to complete their schooling past the 6th grade. Since I can remember, my parents have always enforced that education is key to a better future. Being first generation college students, my brother Omar and I have been each other’s support system, which is very important for college success.

Being born and raised in Las Vegas, I experienced what it felt like to be a minority in a classroom, where none of the teachers or administrators looked like me. At an early age, I decided to change that. I promised myself that I would somehow contribute to change these demographics. So, in middle school, I became a volunteer in various elementary schools, and Secondary Education is now one of my degrees in progress.
College is not just about studying, but about networking and building lifelong relationships as well. I am now part of TRiO, the Hispanic Student Union, Sigma Chi Eta, and the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA). Finding a group of people who share your common goals and interests can help make your college experience a more positive one.

Going to college is not an easy task, but it is an attainable goal. I am working on three degrees: an AA in Communication, an AA in Secondary Education, and a General Studies degree. Being the first woman in my family to attend college, it is now my dream to see other women in my family go to college and graduate. With courage and determination, being successful in college is possible!

I believe college is a very important thing for me because I’m a single mother of 2 girls, I want to give them a good example and I want them to also attend college. I have goals and dreams and I believe those goals can only be obtain by me going to college. I had my first daughter at age 16. I obtained a high school diploma at age 19 because I didn’t want to be another statistic, (a single mother on welfare with no education, by this time I had 2 girls). I have finished the classes I have taken with A and B’s. I currently work a full time job and I try to take as many classes as my work load allows me to take. If anyone has any doubts about being able to go to school just look at me, I take care of 2 girls, I work a full time job and sometimes pick up a part time job and I still make time to attend school, I know it’s hard but in the end it will pay off.  Just think that you have to work your whole life, might as well work in something you enjoy doing and that pays you good money to do it.