An Old-School Solution to Raising Your Income
In the popular film "Real Women Have Curves," 18-year-old Ana, a second-generation Mexican-American, is an outstanding student who wants to go to college. But Ana's mother is reluctant to let her go, reasoning that Ana should help her family by working at her sister's dress-making shop.
The movie is fictional, but there is a troubling reality to it: Too few Latinos and Latinas are going to college. And the bottom line: Without adequate education, you can't make a decent living.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than one in eight people in the United States in 2002 were of Latino origin. Yet only 35 percent of Latino high school graduates between ages 18 and 24 are enrolled in college, compared to 46 percent of white students, according to a report by senior research associate Richard Fry of the Pew Hispanic Center, based at USC's Annenberg School for Communication.
The problem is particularly troubling for Latinas, who are robbing themselves of opportunities for personal and professional growth when they don't go to college.
College is "empowering not only in the way that people treat you, but also in how you feel about yourself," says Gustavo A. Mellander, professor of educational leadership and college administration at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
But Latinas who don't pursue higher education deprive themselves of something even more basic: dinero .
"Individuals with a bachelor's degree have an opportunity to earn as much as double what a high school graduate earns over a lifetime," according to a Pew Hispanic Center report by researchers Watson Scott Swail, Alberto F. Cabrera and Chul Lee of the Washington, D.C.-based Educational Policy Institute.
It used to be that workers could eke out a fairly good middle-class life with a high school diploma. No more. An entire sector of workers who counted on union jobs has disappeared, says Mark Warschauer, professor of education at UC Irvine.
Mellander of George Mason says that a bachelor's degree "is a screen that businesses and government use that shows you're intelligent and that you stuck with it." With so many lower-level jobs being transferred overseas, Mellander adds: "To get a good job in the United States , you have to be even more competent."
Which brings us back to Ana's situation in "Real Women": One scenario is that, years later, she will go to college full time. The problem is, when many Latinas do, they're no longer "college age." What to do?
The first step for students is finding a college with an academic program that inspires them and making an appointment to speak to an adviser. For monetary concerns, financial aid offices can help. For time-management issues, especially for older students who have jobs and families, the student services center or health center can provide pamphlets, connections to child care or even counseling. Notices about scholarships often can be found in the academic department offices of each major. Returning students who hold jobs should check if their employers offer a tuition-reimbursement program. The University of Texas provides one of many links to all U.S. colleges.
On most campuses, there are reentry programs that cater to the needs of returning students, providing not only practical information, such as registration advice, but also emotional support. "One of the biggest things they achieve here is self-confidence," says Nancy Finelli, reentry counselor and program coordinator for the Lifelong Learning Program, which is a part of the Women's Center at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Such centers also offer a sense of belonging. Returning students at California State Polytechnic University , Pomona , use the reentry program's offices as "a place to hang out," says Anita Roberts, program coordinator. "It turns out their best resource is each other."
Among the tips Roberts offers are:
- Rid yourself of the notion that you're too old for school. "I have students who say, 'I'll be 40 by the time I graduate!' And I say you're going to be 40 anyway, so why not be 40 with a degree?"
- Figure out your finances and day-care situation before you start school, not during midterm examinations, which will only stress you out.
A final tip, adds Washington 's Finelli, is to be persistent. "Don't take no for an answer," she says. "Go directly to the department and talk to the chairman or chairwoman. Go directly to the source."
Rosicela A. Rosas, a 53-year-old student at Glendale ( Calif. ) Community College is quite familiar with the challenges of returning to school. About 35 years ago, she enrolled in Los Angeles City College . But, reminiscent of Ana's fictional story, Rosas didn't have much support. Rosas soon became married and began having children.
"I was a female, so I didn't have any use for education," she says, echoing her family's philosophy at the time. "Latinos pay a lot of attention to their parents," so if Mom and Dad see no point in mija going to college, she may decide not to go. But Rosas says she was stubborn, so she held on to her dream and eventually started taking classes. Today, her children are grown with children of their own. "I love college. I love asking questions. And I want to be an example for my grandchildren."
Ruthanne Salido is a freelance writer based in the Los Angeles . She also works at the Los Angeles Times and teaches journalism and communications courses at four- and two-year colleges in Southern California .
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A short list of resources for Latinas (new and returning students) who wish to pursue higher education:
Lists of state universities and community colleges: www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Student Support Systems: www.hacu.net
Hispanic Scholarship Fund: www.hsf.net
Scholarships for Hispanics: www.scholarshipsforhispanics.org
EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) is a California-funded support system for qualified low-income students who are enrolled full-time (12 or more units).
Latino professional organizations: ClickHere
