All college students dream. We have aspirations, goals, paths we want to pursue. As part of the 16% of the Pomona College Class of 2019 who identifies as a first generation college student, I not only carry my own dreams, but the dreams of generations of those before me who never had the privilege to continue their education.

I am not going to college for myself, but for my family, who has made countless sacrifices in order for me to have the privilege of attending Pomona. Leaving high school just about a year ago, I was so excited to finally begin a milestone in my family’s history – little did I know what would be in store for me. To some, college is just the next stepping stone in their life assured by their privileges, but to others, college is daunting and a privilege. As I embarked the journey that is college, I had no idea what I was doing. I never imagined that I would experience troubles, academically and emotionally, in which family members couldn’t help me. I felt so out of place at an institution whose student body mainly consists of many white, upper-class, n^th generation college students.

Despite Pomona claiming that it is more than willing to help students from unprivileged backgrounds, they were not the ones who helped me nor kept me sane. There were many nights in which I called home and talked to my parents about possibly transferring because I felt so out of place. I felt isolated, having very few people to turn to, but those people I could turn to truly understood me. I realized that regardless of where I went to school, I would be surrounded by the same crowd of privileged people. I thought about all the work I put into getting into Pomona and I wasn’t about to let that hard work and the sacrifices of others go to waste.

Institutions of higher education were not built for students like me, a racial minority, low-income, first-generation student. But students like me, we serve a very important role at these institutions. We are part of a community that is paving the way for future generations of first-generation students so that college is not as difficult of a transition and experience for them like it is for us. Our struggles are not in vain. We are the brave few that are willing to go through the struggles and carry the hopes and dreams of many generations to show colleges that we are just as important as privileged students. Parents like mine, who are working the worst of jobs, are willing to do anything to watch me succeed. There isn’t a single day where I don’t think about my family, wanting to drop out of college so I can get a job and help my family financially. However, I am more to my family by continuing my education, making sure that future generations of my family won’t have to experience the same hardships of not knowing what college entails. But I cannot let their sacrifices and hard work go to waste. I am in college for my family more than I am for myself. If you’re simply at college for yourself, check your privilege.

My name is Jovani Azpeitia and despite the hardships I am experiencing in college, I am a proud Chicano, low-income, first generation student at Pomona College and my voice will be heard.