Where I Come From and Where I’m Going
- La Voz Latina
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Written by: Jennifer Ruano 🇸🇻🇭🇳
When I first arrived at the University of Maryland, I can still picture being surrounded by thousands of students effortlessly navigating schedules and buildings — an experience their past generations had witnessed already. At that moment, I realized how different my experience was from many of the students around me.
While others seemed to move with confidence, I was trying to figure out where I fit in. I wasn’t just learning a new campus — I was learning an entirely new system that no one in my family had experienced before.
I had to navigate from reading a syllabus to finding academic resources, understanding how to communicate with professors to figuring out unspoken academic norms that others already seem to know. Things that felt so simple, I felt like something I had to figure out on my own.
That sense of uncertainty made the transition overwhelming, but it also made me more aware of the significance of being there in the first place.
My first day as a first-generation Latino college student meant more than just starting my own academic career. My first day marked the beginning of a journey that my family had never taken before, and I carried the sacrifices and ambitions of those who assisted me in getting there.
If you are a first-generation student, it means that neither of your parents have completed higher education. Although the concept seems straightforward, the experience is much deeper. This reality shaped how I approached college from the very beginning. Every decision felt significant because I knew I was navigating a path without a guide.
While many students could rely on their families for advice, I often had to depend on my own judgment and the support of mentors at school. At times, this uncertainty was overwhelming, but it also pushed me to become more independent and determined to succeed.
The journey to college comes with anxiety, responsibility and determination for many Latino students, including myself. The path to higher education often calls for learning systems that were never intended with our backgrounds in mind.
The first significant obstacle frequently starts well in advance of reaching higher education. That obstacle often begins with simply understanding how the college process works. Applications, deadlines, and requirements can feel confusing when there is no prior experience within the family to rely on.
What may seem routine for other students becomes a process of trial and error, where each step requires extra time and effort to navigate. This lack of familiarity can create stress early on, while also highlighting the level of determination required to pursue higher education.
The college admission process has never been easy, but it can be more intimidating for first-generation students. For those who are not first-generation students, many elder siblings or their parents often tell the student about the Common Application and its deadlines. Without that kind of guidance dealing with the process can feel overwhelming and uncertain.
Understanding application requirements, tracking deadlines, and completing essays often requires independent research and support from teachers or school counselors. Each step becomes something that has to be learned rather than simply followed.
This added responsibility can make the admissions process more stressful, while also highlighting the effort it takes to navigate it successfully. My case was different. Although they had no firsthand knowledge of the system, my parents encouraged me to pursue my goal of attending college.
I frequently found myself researching universities, seeking advice from instructors, and attempting to determine which one was actually best for me.
Strict deadlines and essays required careful preparation, and there was often little assistance at home to fully understand how the system worked. I remember not knowing what the Common Application was at first or how the admissions process operated. Even though my parents couldn’t guide me through each step, they supported me in every way they could, encouraging me to keep going despite the uncertainty.
Acceptance into a university such as the University of Maryland is more than just a personal accomplishment for many first-generation Latino students.
For me, that moment represented more than just receiving an acceptance letter. It reflected years of effort, uncertainty and support from my family, all coming together at once. What once felt distant and unfamiliar became real, and the possibility of attending college was no longer just a goal but an achievement within reach.
Acceptance is a significant event for the whole family. Parents who may not have had the same opportunity can watch their kids reach achievements they could only imagine.
The difficulty of paying for college follows. Even for families that have experience with higher education, financial aid can be challenging. It might be difficult for first-generation Latino families to comprehend Free Application for Federal Student Aid paperwork, grants, scholarships and loans.
It was difficult to sit with my parents and try to understand financial aid applications that were full of strange requirements and terms. I frequently translated things for my parents while attempting to comprehend them myself.
At times, the process felt overwhelming, as I was balancing my own confusion while trying to make the information clear for my family. Every form and requirement required extra patience and attention, turning what might seem like a simple task into a longer, more complicated process. Still, those moments also showed how much we were all invested in the outcome, working together to understand each step and move forward.
Patience, understanding, and — above all else — teamwork was necessary. Even if my parents didn't fully comprehend every aspect of the system, their support served as a reminder that we were all working together to reach the end. That sense of teamwork made a difference during moments of uncertainty.
Even when answers were not immediately clear, the effort we put in together created a sense of progress. It showed that success in this process was not about having all the knowledge from the start, but about staying committed and continuing forward despite the challenges.
These milestones demonstrate how first-generation college experiences frequently turn into joint family efforts. Parents offer emotional support, encouragement, and faith in their children's potential, even when they are unable to offer advice. That support often becomes a driving force throughout the college journey.
Knowing that there are people who believe in your success, even without fully understanding the process, creates a sense of motivation that goes beyond academics. It reinforces the idea that each step forward is not taken alone, but with the encouragement of those who have supported the journey from the very beginning. A parent's faith in your intuition and lifestyle is a source of inspiration for the road that lies ahead.
Although the difficulties do not fully go away, the arrival of first-generation Latino students on campus is an important turning point. High school and college are two completely different lives.
Large lecture halls and challenging assignments can overwhelm a student. Adjusting to this new environment takes time and persistence. Navigating unfamiliar academic expectations, managing a heavier workload and adapting to a faster pace can feel overwhelming at first.
Without prior experience to rely on, each challenge becomes a learning opportunity, requiring students to develop new skills and confidence as they continue to move forward.
When I was surrounded by classmates whose families had generations of college experience, I initially felt out of place. Low self-esteem can be a result of imposter syndrome, the idea that you do not really belong in the academic setting you have fought so hard to achieve.
I can recall moments in my first semester as a freshman when I doubted my readiness for success. But as time went on, I came to see that my background did not diminish my abilities. In many ways, it strengthened my commitment to complete my degree.
As a first-generation student, I felt that pressure deeply. There were moments when it seemed like I could not afford to fail because of everything my family had sacrificed, but that feeling also motivated me to put in more effort and keep moving forward.
College achievement is closely linked to family pride for many first-generation Latino students.
In order to provide possibilities for their children, parents may have immigrated, worked multiple jobs or overcome financial difficulties. Their sacrifices give a deeper meaning to everything I do in college. Each assignment, exam, and accomplishment feels connected to the
opportunities they worked hard to provide.
That perspective serves as a constant reminder of why I started this journey and encourages me to continue pushing forward, even when challenges arise.
Students frequently feel a significant obligation to succeed for their families, as well as for themselves because of these sacrifices. Every test that is passed, every semester that is finished and every step that leads to graduation becomes a shared accomplishment.
The experiences of Latino students in college are deeply shaped by culture. Even as we adjust to new academic settings, languages, and customs, family values remain a central part of our identity.
For me, those values appear in everyday ways, from how I communicate with my family to the priorities I carry with me in school. Staying connected to my culture provides a sense of stability, especially during stressful moments, reminding me of where I come from and reinforcing the purpose behind my education.
Maintaining cultural customs and speaking my native language at home helps me stay connected to my heritage. During moments of anxiety, talking to my parents reminds me of what I am working toward and helps me stay grounded.
Parents recognize the value of education in our work, even if they are not familiar with the specifics. They see our sweat and tears put into our future and understand how this obstacle is.
Another essential component of developing confidence as a first-generation student is discovering a campus community. Spaces where students feel understood and encouraged are found through cultural organizations and friendships with other first-generation students.
For many students, these groups serve as spaces where they freely discuss their experiences and gain knowledge from others going through comparable struggles. For me, finding that sense of community made a significant difference in my college experience.
Being around others who understood similar challenges created a space where I felt more comfortable and supported. It allowed me to share my experiences, learn from others and build confidence in an environment where I no longer felt alone.
As a sophomore at the University of Maryland, I have come to better understand what it means to be a first-generation Latino student. This journey has required resilience and transformation, where each step forward represents both my own growth and progress for future generations.
Over time, I have learned to navigate challenges with more confidence and recognize that the obstacles I once faced are part of a larger purpose. My experiences are not only shaping who I am today, but also creating opportunities and setting an example for those who will follow a similar path.
First-generation Latino students at the University of Maryland and other campuses are reinventing ways on what it means to be a part of campus life. The university community benefits from their varied viewpoints and cultural pride.
College is more than just a personal accomplishment for individuals like me. It serves as a bridge between the opportunities of the future and the sacrifices made by our families in the past.
College is more than just a personal accomplishment for individuals like me. It serves as a bridge between the opportunities of the future and the sacrifices made by our families in the past. Each step forward reflects not only my own progress, but also the hard work and determination that made this journey possible.
This experience carries a deeper purpose, reminding me that my success is connected to something greater than myself and motivating me to continue building toward a better future. In addition to chasing our personal goals, by starting this journey, we are opening doors that previously looked unreachable for the following generation.
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