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 envisioned myself accomplishing much as a student. My focus was always on starting a career, but 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 from Dallas Baptist University was easy, but it wasn’t. In fact it took seven years for me to attain my bachelors degree. I didn’t receive many college scholarships so I worked full-time to pay for my college tuition. When you’re the first in your family to try something new, it’s hard for your family to understand your struggles and ways to support you. Good thing my family gave me the emotional encouragement I needed in order to finish college.
I have made a way for future generations who will come after me to not only say, here is the road but also to say that there is a destination.
When I completed grad school I knew my life was going to change. The further I went in school the sharper my mind became. 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. Today, I get to keynote Latino youth conferences and I always tell them that it only takes one person to change a family tree. Let me ask you, are you that one person?
3 Comments
Joselyn Moreno
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!
Joselyn Moreno
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 🙁
M.Makeshwari
I am the first graduate in my family.I already got scholarship by giving first graduate certificate in school. I need first graduate certificate for college.But I gave original first graduate certificate to school.Now I have only xerox.Can I get another first graduate certificate?