Aug 30 in Hispanic Education
Written by: Fabian Ramirez
First in my family to graduate
I’m Hispanic and I’m the first in my family to graduate college and graduate school.
Growing up I never visioned myself accomplishing much as a student. My focus was always on starting a career, little did I know that education was the path that I was supposed to take to advance my career.
I wish I could say that attaining a college degree was easy but it wasn’t. In fact it took close to seven years for me to complete my bachelors simply because I was working full-time to pay for tuition. When you’re the first in your family to try something new it’s a lot harder because the path you are on is so new that your immediate family doesn’t know how to support you. Good thing my family gave me the emotional encouragement I needed in order to finish.
I have made a way for future generations who come after me to not only say here is the road but also to say that there is a destination and a degree will be your reward for finishing.
When I completed grad school I knew my life was going to change. The further I went in school the sharper my mind became and every day when I wake up I think through an educated mind.
The choices I make reflect the education I received.
I have received the tools to build a different life for my family. Being the first to graduate college has caused me to think about other victories that I can accomplish in life. I put an end to the myth that college wasn’t for me. I also broke through the stronghold that a degree is just a paper on the wall. I now know that a degree is a life accomplishment and a stepping stone for where my career can go.
The decision to finish college has changed my family tree forever. My future children will reap the benefits of what I was able to sow in my life. I’m happy that future generations can benefit from the decisions that I was able to make out of high school. I hope to share my message with other young Hispanic middle school and high school students. As I speak to Hispanics about education, I always tell them that it only takes one person to change a family tree. Are you that one person?
2 Comments for: Hispanics First In My Family To Graduate
If there is someone out there that will help me pay for college, please help. I really want to continue with my education, but money is scarce in my family, and I might not even continue my second semester as a freshman 
Hello Favian Ramirez, I am so proud of you!
I am doing a research paper for my English class,and I am writing about discrimination against Hispanics in public schools, i saw a link to your website, started reading and I think everything that relates to bullying is true and interesting, as well as relevant for my paper. I am a freshman in college, I am the first generation to attend college, and hope to be the first generation to graduate as well. I am Mexican, and It’s very difficult indeed to graduate college. I am only 17 years old, I work 20 hours a week and attend college 5 days a week as well. I don’t have much financial aid. My parents are paying most of the college, but its not enough. Because I want to continue with my education, I work 10 hours a day twice a week to help to pay for college. YOU ARE A GREAT ROLE MODEL!