These SHU sisters are working hard to get the first college degrees in their family.
Growing up within a few blocks of Siena Heights University, Valeria and Viviana Morales dreamt of attending college one day and fulfilling the dream their mother planted in their hearts from a young age.
“I think she told us every single day, ‘Go to college!’,” said Viviana, a freshman with aspirations of becoming a high school teacher. “Now she often says, ‘Please, keep going. Don’t stop.’”
First generation Hispanic students experience unique challenges when applying for and starting college. “For a lot of Hispanic students, it just doesn’t seem possible to go to college. It doesn’t seem possible to be able to pay for it,” said Viviana. “Many kids work at jobs that don’t require a high school diploma because they think it’s not possible to get a degree. So, it’s always been a really big thing in our family and I’m going to be so proud of myself and my sister when we get diplomas.”
Another barrier many students face is a communication barrier between their parents and the school staff. Many families speak only Spanish in the home, and while the children are bilingual, the parents often are not. “It was a really big transition for me to start attending Siena Heights since I was the first one in my family to attend college,” said Valeria, a junior pursuing a marketing degree. “Fortunately, the Spanish speaking admission counselors really helped my mother and myself throughout the entire process. Just having someone that could speak with my mother, letting her ask questions, it was a big reason I am here today.
Valeria faced a complicated situation that resulted in her briefly leaving Siena Heights. Through the support of the staff and administration, she was eventually able to return and continue her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, hoping to become a sales representative for a beauty company after graduation. “Leaving was a decision I instantly regretted. It was very difficult to come back, but so many people here at Siena helped me,” recalls Valeria. “They offered advice and guidance and I was able to return. Without their support, I don’t think I would be here today.”
Both graduates of Adrian High School, Valeria and Viviana commute to their classes at Siena. “It is hard being a commuter because you’re not here all the time, like everybody else,” said Viviana. “But the staff and students are so nice and try to constantly include you. I also feel like the professors truly do care and want the best for you.”
“I hope to be an English teacher someday,” said Viviana. “I remember being in high school with Hispanic kids who didn’t really get all that much help or attention. I want to be that teacher who is always there and who’s very helpful, especially for Hispanic students. The teacher, you know, that you can count on.”
“If you come here having no idea what you’re getting yourself into, what to do, what resources are available, anyone who works here will be there to guide you through everything,” said Valeria. “That’s why I would encourage anybody to come to Siena. It’s like they are family because they truly care.”
While Hispanic students may face unique circumstances that make college seem impossible or attendance difficult, the strength they receive from influence of their parents and their culture can give them the determination needed to complete a degree.
“We’ve just had a lot of challenges in our lives,” explains Viviana tearfully. “Me, my mom and our whole family. It’s just going to mean the world to me when I graduate and tell her, ‘Mom, I did it!’”