My first quarter of college was overwhelming to say the least. Coming from a private, majority white (but socially aware) high school in Lafayette CA, I thought I knew exactly what to expect at Santa Clara.
I was wrong. Being surrounded by hyperprivileged individuals (when you don’t understand that lifestyle) is an interesting experience. I felt like my priorities didn’t align with the priorities of the people I was surrounding myself with. This in itself made me question a lot of things about myself and my position within higher education as a whole. But then I joined LEAD.
LEAD is a program for first-generation college students. It provides endless opportunities and support for success within college, but most importantly it creates a little community of people with similar walks of life. Becoming apart of LEAD during second quarter and taking a LEAD class this quarter has enabled me to be apart of something that I can relate to more deeply.
Within any space, there are people who are diverse not only in race but also in their experiences. However, sometimes it’s easy to forget that simple fact when you are the minority in that situation. In this class we’ve talked a lot about higher education and the role we play within it, as well as different levels and definitions of literacy. As I progress in my journey throughout college, I hope to learn from those who have differing experiences than my own, and lend a helping hand to those who can learn something from me. All the while feeling the sense of safety that comes with being apart of an organization like LEAD.