Financial Aid For First-generation Hispanic Students In New York City – Attending college as a first-generation student has its challenges. Read about a Latino student who pursues his dreams despite obstacles.
My name is Aldo Madrigal Olivarez. Yes, “Olivarez” with a “Z”, not with an “s”. When I was born, the nurses made a mistake when writing my last name and my parents couldn’t speak English, so there was no way they could tell the nurses about the mistake. When I was just two hours old, I already faced the challenges of being a Latino born in the state of Georgia.
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Throughout my life, I have faced challenges that have prepared me to be a responsible college student. But what about the process of choosing my major, my college, and my financial aid? As a first-generation college student, there weren’t many people who encouraged me to pursue post-secondary education. When I made my first list of potential colleges and their tuition, my mom looked at me like I was telling a horror story to a child. From that moment on, I promised myself that I would not be another financial burden on my mother’s family: I would pay for my education with a scholarship.
Minority Student Scholarships And Financial Aid 2024
When I was a senior in high school, the pressure to keep up with my studies increased enormously. If I want to be the first in my family to go to college, I need to start looking into affordable colleges and applying for scholarships. I distinctly remember typing “cheapest colleges in Georgia state” into the Google search bar. Thousands of results. Several public and private schools emerged, but not all of them offered the programs that interested me.
My dream was to work in medicine, but I decided to do more than dream about it. I decided to work to fulfill my dream. In the summer of 2021, I decided to double major in Spanish and Biology as a pre-med major. I’m looking for a university, neither too big nor too small, that is diverse. I wanted to see people with different interests.
When I started my application process I thought it would be very difficult, but no. The application process is very simple. I am used to completing documents for my family and translating them, so completing them is not a problem for me.
I remember students complaining about the difficulty in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. I was curious to know why they were having difficulty and realized that some students did not feel obligated to translate, complete or submit important documents that I had to do.
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“…I noticed that some students did not force me to translate, complete or send important documents.
I think this is one of the best things about being a first-generation Latino student. Although my mother and brother always told me that I needed help throughout the entire process, I learned to be independent and responsible.
When I was looking for scholarships, the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) scholarship offered at Valdosta State University looked very promising. The scholarship is offered to pay 100% of the first year of studies. I immediately looked up the scholarship requirements and definitely met them. I immediately submitted my essay and all the necessary documents to obtain the scholarship.
After submitting my application, I repeatedly called Mauricio, CAMP’s scholarship director at the time, to ask if they had reviewed my application. One day when I called, they said, “Your application has been approved and you are part of the 2025 cohort.” I was very incredulous. I can’t believe I’m one step closer to making my dream come true. After all, Valdosta State University has a beautiful campus with warm temperatures and is the perfect size. I would like to attend Valdosta State University.
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Since many organizations offer scholarships to people like me who want to change the world, paying for my education is not my problem.
In high school, I was always an “A” student and was always very involved in clubs and other events, so it was up to me to try to continue helping my community as much as I could.
After college classes started, I started meeting new people, some important people too, I would say. I don’t like using people’s job titles to judge their level of “importance,” but I’ve learned that sometimes networking is necessary, so it has to be done.
I became so involved in events through networking that I got my first leadership position my first year of college. I became president of the Latin American Student Association (LASA). I thought being a leader in college was like being a leader in high school, but let me tell you, I was dead wrong.
46 Percent Of Uci Graduates Receiving Bachelor’s Degrees Are First-generation Students
As president of LASA at the university, I have had to book events, manage a group of students with many different interests, and work with other officials to discuss ways to better interact with students. It hasn’t been easy, especially as a full-time college student, but my desire to contribute to my community has driven me to become who I am today.
Leaving my family was one of the worst feelings I ever experienced, but it was only for a short time because I was coming home and visiting them. My biggest concern was living on campus.
Living in a building where students have to use the communal bathroom is terrifying. I’m used to having a lot more privacy and feeling like I’m “at home.” This feeling only lasted the first week of school. I soon became good friends with my roommate, who still talks to me.
As a first-generation Latino college student from a family that was not very financially stable, I recommend that students follow their dreams no matter what people, including their families, say.
Parent And Family Guide For Hispanic And Latino/a Students
Sometimes parents have expectations of what life “should be” before their children had a chance to see the world. But that is no reason to stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Parents want their children to succeed in life, but everyone can succeed if they do what they love.
“Sometimes before parents have a chance to see the world, their children have expectations of what life should be like.”
Additionally, I suggest that each student take advantage of the resources their universities offer and make friends on campus by interacting, collaborating, and participating whenever possible. Get out of your comfort zone to allow yourself to meet new people.
Fear is just a part of being human. Without fear nothing is fun. You can’t feel the adrenaline, which makes life monotonous and boring.
Club Spotlight: The First-generation Student Association
Aldo Madrigal Olivarez was born in Georgia, United States. However, shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Michoacán, Mexico, where he grew up. Aldo is a junior at Valdosta State University and is majoring in biology as a pre-med major. He is also studying Spanish.
Aldo especially enjoys volunteering in the Latino community and is president of the Latin American Student Association on campus.
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Many first-generation students must chart their own college path. Find out how one student learned the hard way what was right for his academic success. Scholarships for first-generation college students help defray the cost of higher education. Read on to learn more about financial aid for first-generation students.
First-generation Students Deserve To Be Seen
Definitions vary, but first-generation students are often considered to be those whose parents did not earn a bachelor’s degree. According to the Center for First-Generation Student Success, nearly one-third of college students in the United States are first-generation students.
Recognizing that first-generation college students need a little extra help preparing for college, many schools, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and foundations offer awards designed specifically for these students. Read on to learn about some of the best first-generation scholarships available now.
Awarded to incoming freshmen whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree, this award requires applicants to complete the FAFSA and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This award is renewable as long as a student takes at least 12 credits each semester and maintains their Colorado Mesa University GPA at 3.0 or higher.
Designed for first-generation college students in Arizona, Dorrance Scholarship programs provide awards to applicants who demonstrate financial need. Recipients receive a $12,000 scholarship each year for four academic years, as long as they continue to meet all requirements. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a score of at least 1110 on the SAT or 22 on the ACT. They should also be present.
