Voces Video: Norma Rojas

Profile

Norma is a single 27-year-old female student of Mexican descent who lives in Glendale, California. She is a U.S. citizen, English is her first language, and she has multiple dependents. She is enrolled at a community college part-time, works part-time, commutes to campus, and has a family income that is less than $40,000 a year. Her parents have less than a high school education.

College choice
For Norma, the cost of going to college was the biggest decision in making her college choice. She did not finish high school because her father was disabled and she had to help take care of the family. She is still taking care of her parents and now has a daughter as well. Norma applied to five schools that had her major. Although she was accepted by all, she chose the college with the lowest tuition because of the cost. Before she went to college, she worked full-time for a while. She always believed that going to college meant that she and her family could have more job opportunities and a better lifestyle.

The following is an excerpt from an essay Norma submitted about her college experience as a recipient of a Hispanic College Fund scholarship.

The economic plight of many Hispanic students entering college is an issue that should be addressed. For me, attaining a college degree has always been a financial challenge, not an academic one. I am currently 27-years-old and I am finally about to earn my associate’s degree in nursing science. I am considered a “returning” college student because I did not enter college right after finishing high school. In fact, I did not have the privilege of finishing my high school education as many traditional college students do. I was sixteen years old when my father suffered a heart attack that rendered him disabled. Our family faced serious financial difficulties because he was the head of our household. I was reluctantly forced to leave high school ahead of time so that I could work to help support my family. I took and passed the California High School Proficiency Exam in order to fulfill my high school requirements and enter the workforce. I have not stopped working since.

Although I always planned on attending college, my financial obligations impeded me from pursing this goal. I had to wait several years to begin my college career (not by choice, of course). As a student with dependents of my own, I know the importance of financial aid. I would not be attending college if it weren’t for the generous scholarships and grants that have made it possible for me. Today, I hope to continue my college education and enter a graduate program. I sit here with great aspirations to not only be the first in family to attend college, but also to obtain a professional degree.