On the Road to Higher Education

At 96 percent, the Teton County School district boasts one of the highest graduation rates in the country. For most high school graduates in Jackson Hole, college is the obvious next step in the straight and narrow track of education. But for some, the journey isn’t as linear. Jackson’s growing population of Latino students must overcome a unique combination of cultural and generational barriers.

Bianca’s story

Bianca recently finished her freshman year at the University of Wyoming. Like any eighteen year old, flush with the idealism so common in college students, she hasn’t exactly narrowed down what she wants to study. “At the moment, I’m double majoring in International Studies and Spanish languages, but I’ll probably also minor in Chicano Latino Studies… I guess I’m still deciding.”

The fact that Bianca has the opportunity to choose between degrees is a blessing. Bianca is a DACA student (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). In other words, despite living in the USA since the age of 9, she remains an undocumented immigrant and is therefore automatically disqualified from in-state tuition and nearly all college scholarships. When she decided to make school a priority, Bianca knew it wouldn’t be easy. As a sixteen-year-old high school junior, Bianca’s schedule looked something like this:

Wake up at 6:45am

Class from 8:00am to 3:50pm

Work at Wendy’s from 5:00pm to 11:00pm

Homework from 11:30-1:30am

Asleep by 2:00am

Somehow, despite her exhuasting schedule, Bianca still managed to earn a GPA of 4.0. Taking note of her newfound zeal for education, her parents agreed to help finance her college tuition. And good thing they did, for Bianca’s personal savings were wiped out when she fell ill with a severe mouth infection in the spring semester of her Junior year. As an undocumented immigrant, Bianca had no access to health insurance, and was forced to pay for hospital bills out of her own pocket.

Despite her financial setback, having her parent’s support meant that Bianca could reprioritize her busy life. After developing a detailed college savings plan with her parents, she quit her job at Wendy’s and started working with the Youth Conservation Corp in Grand Teton National Park. The new job gave Bianca more time to spend with her friends and family, and more time to devote to Cuenta Conmigo, an LRC program dedicated to empowering young Latinos. Surrounded by other motivated students in Cuenta Conmigo, Bianca's drive to pursue a bachelor's degree was galvanized.

“I now know how important it is to go to college. It opens new doors and introduces me to new subjects. I’m learning how to think and how to learn… I see my dad working two jobs, and I don’t want to be stuck like that. I want to have more time for my family. I want to be able to support my parents after all they’ve done for me.”

Freshman year was a success for Bianca. But in addition to the social and academic challenges that every college student faces, Bianca had some major cultural and generational hurdles to navigate. “My parents only went to school through the 3rd grade. They are definitely proud of me, but they also have really high expectations… Because they are supporting me, they expect me to get straight A’s. I’m doing my best, but they don’t understand the American culture of college… I don’t want to spend ALL my time studying for tests, I want to make friends and have a social life too. It’s a balance.” Bianca understands that her parent’s only want her to succeed, but their expectations can be stifling.

Challenges like this are all too common for members of the 1.5 generation (a term used to describe immigrants who arrived in the US as children). Unlike their first generation parents or US born counterparts, the members of the 1.5 generation have a split identity and face an uphill battle when it comes to education. Fortunately, programs like Cuenta Conmigo and College Bound Latinas exist to help these young Latinos access the support they can’t necessarily find at home.

Suzy’s Story

Suzy Perez, a second generation Latina, has taken full advantage of these programs. She will be heading off to the University of Wyoming this fall to pursue a degree in business, fulfilling a dream she has harbored since middle school. With a story remarkably similar to Bianca’s, Suzy’s parents were unable to finish middle school before joining the workforce. “My mom always wanted to be a teacher, but she could never afford to stop working in order to go back to school,” explained Suzy. “They are proud of me, but also very nervous.” As first generation immigrants, Suzy’s parents were understandably perplexed by the complicated college application process. Fortunately, they knew where to find help.

Lety Leira, the program director of College Bound Latinas explains, “When the parents of the kids are involved, they find a way to support their kids. Sometimes, they don’t know how to navigate the systems of education, and that’s where Isabel and I [of College Bound Latinas] are able to point them in the right direction. It’s obvious that whenever you have parent involvement with these kids, there’s going to be a better outcome… It’s not that these parents don’t want to get involved, they just don’t know how. Suzy’s parents didn’t go to college, but they make sure that she goes to every program that’s out there.”

With her parent’s encouragement, Suzy has tapped into many of the resources available to Latina teens. In 2013, she became one of the first members of Cuenta Conmigo. She was among the first 7th graders to enroll in the College Bound Latina program, and was an active member of Latina Leadership and Gear Up throughout high school. Armed with newfound confidence, a rock solid social network, and a patchwork of scholarships, Suzy is ready for college. Perhaps most remarkable of all... She’s paying for it herself. “I know that going to college is going to improve my whole family’s life… I owe so much to my family and all those who have helped me,” said Suzy.

“I am beyond proud of these girls,” says Barbara, founder and director of Cuenta Conmigo. “They are my young Latina role models, and they are going to be wonderful mentors for the community.”