Reflections in Higher Education: A Love Letter to Today’s Students

By Tania Valencia

Ponte las pilas. This phrase served as a reminder that throughout every aspect of life, from school to work, I had to keep going. As the eldest daughter from an immigrant family, I learned to put great effort into everything I did and carried generations of dreams on my shoulders. I was determined, hungry, and — above all — I was a talented person with a desire to thrive. Surely, if by the age of 16 I could manage two jobs, two different sports, along with a full International Baccalaureate (IB) courseload, I could solve any problem that came my way as a college student. I began my journey on a path that nobody in my family could guide me through, and the barriers to higher education became clear to me early on. 

While the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process seemed fairly simple for most of my classmates in the IB program, Mami and I had no idea where to start. So I turned to the only bilingual staff member in the administrative office at my high school for support. Over several weeks I would visit her office, each time with a new set of questions. Like a game of telephone, I relayed the most important information Mami needed to know and we submitted my FAFSA application. Then came the financial aid offer letters, and I was right back in her office seeking more guidance. While she could answer some of my questions, I ultimately had to make most of my decisions about college alone.

Once in college, I knew that focusing solely on my academics was not an option. With my minimum wage part-time job, I was responsible for rent, utilities, my phone bill, groceries, gas, books, and of course a tuition payment that wasn’t fully covered with financial aid. It was considered a solid week if I had $7 left over to buy frijoles, and yet I had no idea how to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. By junior year, my Pell grants had dried up, and I was on the verge of dropping out. I tried to find every solution I could to stay in school. I switched to part-time classes and struggled to find co-signers who could help me take out private loans to finance my way to graduation through debt. The uncertainty of not being able to accomplish my dreams would keep me up at night. 

Ponte las pilas, I repeated these words like a song, and believed that if I continued to work harder, I would succeed. By sheer will, I was getting mostly As, but emotionally, physically, and mentally I was hanging on by a thread. By senior year, I had maxed out my only credit card on groceries I couldn’t pay for myself. Today, I am one of the 8 million borrowers whose federal loans are enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, which opponents have blocked from providing significant relief to me and my family. As a student who didn’t come from financial or social wealth, I paid an enormous price, and the convergence of this instability remains reflected on my credit history to this day.

To today’s aspiring and current college students, know that it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s with this sense of urgency and desire to see our families thrive that we must continue to fight for our civil right to equal educational opportunity. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to upend race-conscious college admissions, remember that you belong and your dreams will always have a place in higher education. You can do this. You deserve to feel self-assured in your ability to excel in college.

We must remain bold and assertive in affirming that racial progress has always been and will always continue to be a priority and necessity in higher education. We must do everything in our power to disrupt the systemic barriers that attempt to hold us back from achieving our goals. We must demand transformative policies that are rooted in opportunity such as the U.S. Department of Education’s and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s partnership to expand SNAP access for college students, which would have drastically changed my life as a student.

However, the work doesn’t end with one policy solution. Together, we must envision and build a higher education ecosystem where we all thrive. It’s with this sense of purpose and conviction that I invite you to study and organize around the 100 civil rights recommendations set forth within We Shall Not Be Moved: A Policy Agenda to Achieve the National Imperative of Racial Equity and Diversity in Higher Education.

The world needs us — needs you — to show up powerfully and confidently for civil rights. Whether you’re working to increase access to public benefits programs, demanding affordable childcare on campuses, or securing safe housing for all students, We Shall Not Be Moved and its 100 recommendations serve as a resource for millions of students across the country to take action and continue elevating our advocacy efforts. In unity with one another, we are the strongest force that can point the way forward to transform and propel our higher education system to new heights. Together we thrive and We Shall Not Be Moved.

Love,

Tania

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Me puse las pilas. I worked, and I persisted. I helped to establish my university’s first Latine graduation ceremony to celebrate our accomplishments in higher education. I was the first in my family to graduate from college and set an example for my siblings and cousins, most of whom would eventually follow in my footsteps and become college graduates themselves. I will forever be proud of my journey. I am eternally grateful to my Mami and Mami Elva for giving me the opportunity to dream big. We did this together. As a mother now myself, I will always continue to fight for a future where my child, and every child, can live out their wildest dreams.

Tania Valencia is the senior program manager for higher education at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.