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Jonathan Retana

Holly Batty

English 101

25 September 2019

Start of something new: first-generation Latinx students

Being a first generation Latinx student is a lot of pressure. You have to deal with the

struggles of living up to your family's expectations and have to manage all the stress you have

with class and people giving you a bad look because none of your family have been to college.

Most people don't fully grasp the concept of having to carry all the weight you have because of

how highly your family looks up to you and how stressful it can be to the point where it can turn

into a problem. So i ask this question, can being a first-generation Latinc student cause

depression ? I believe it can. Although there are many clubs and stations that provide such great

help, that doesn't stop family from being overwhelming. If a family puts you on a pedestal it can

have an impact on you because we will be scared of failing and failing is an important step

towards life and how you achieve success.

To begin with, some of the problems Latinx students face with family is the pressure.

They have to help with family so much that sometimes being at school and work can be too

much. People that origin for the hispanic side of the world know that family is an important

thing and shunned if they decide not to help them. We understand our part in a family and if

you have time to work and make money and support and help around the house then you

should do that instead of spending time going to school. The article “ The Hidden Treasure on
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Latino students “ states that, “The foreign-born are much more likely to be supporting their

family and 64 percent of them in the 18 to 25 age group are sending money to support family in

the old country.”, this is a great example of how us latino students support our family no matter

where they are and we need to do it because its is a great importance. If we don't we will be

seen as bad in our own family and might even be cast away from our family.

Another problem with being a first generation Latinx student is feeling alone and lost.

Since you are the first once to be attending college it can be scary and confusing on where to go

when you need help. Schools have tutor sections but at times we become extremely introverted

to go and ask and we can't ask our family because they have never been to college. We feel like

we are trapped in a prison of anxiety. We can't drop out and take a year to help our mental

health because our parents will tell us that selfish because many kids wish they had the

opportunity to go to college. “Pressure of a first-generation college student” article

explains,”But as a first generation student I felt lonely, scared and intimidated during the

application process.”this helps us understand that many latinos felt scared and confused when

taking the first step into college and this is important because if you don't take the first step

theres a chance that you will never take it and be locked in a world where you will always work

to maintain your family.

Finally, your point is getting across of getting pressured by family but, college offers so

much help for first-generation. They offer many ways that they can take that first step into

college. I personally have experience some of the help such as EOPS and they basically guide

you through college and make sure that you don't get extremely stressed with financial

problems. This is true, although it's not just about money. It highly prioritized on how family
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treats you and how they see you. They want to make sure you do what's best for the family and

they even peer pressure that on you.

To conclude, first-generation latinx have it hard and simple. Now with all the new help

they can achieve so much more but no matter what they will always have the pleasure of

making sure their family respects the decisions they make and also wanting to make their family

proud and become the person their family wanted them to be. I am extremely happy that most

colleges offer help to latinx because they understand the frustration and the struggles they are

going through financially and mentaly.

Works cited

Pressure of a first-generation college student:

But as a first generation student I felt lonely, scared and intimidated during the

application process.

https://chimesnewspaper.com/23336/opinions/pressure-first-generation-college-student/

The Hidden Pressures on Latino Students:

The foreign-born are much more likely to be supporting their family and 64 percent of
them in the 18 to 25 age group are sending money to support family in the old country.

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/the-hidden-pressures-on-latino-students
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