Are you thinking to study far away from home?

For many Hispanic families moving out of the house before marriage is not an option. The cultural traditions of our countries are shown on a daily basis. At 15 years old, the thought of moving out of the house in a few short years might seem a little terrifying.

The love and passion we feel for the land where we grew is incomparable, but we have to be realistic, the world is full of opportunities for the youth of tomorrow. Don’t limit yourselves.  According to the Pew Hispanic Center, only 12 out of 100 Latino children that enter kindergarten will graduate from a four-year university. Unquestionably, we must help students apply to and enroll in colleges that offer them the most opportunities to succeed in life.

A student should consider going away when educational opportunities surpass those offered at home but are still affordable. Families should take advantage of the summer to research potential colleges and scholarship opportunities, using tools like www.collegeboard.org/enespanol.

I’ve asked Rubén Alonzo, a recent graduate of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for insight. It’s not easy to leave home and loved ones for college, however, his story can be instructive to the quinceaneras, who are planning to leave home.

When did you know that you wanted to go to college away from home?

It wasn’t until my AP® Calculus teacher suggested MIT. She told me I’d be able to stand on my own two feet, become my own person, and have opportunities that I wouldn’t have in Crystal City, Texas. That spoke to me.

How did your mom react when you told her you were leaving?

She felt that I was making things harder on my family by being thousands of miles away. I knew that MIT was more rigorous and had more opportunities to offer. She shared the news with her doctor and nurses. Their reactions finally convinced her that MIT was a special school.

How did you both handle being away?

I have always been very social, so that helped.  My mother was diagnosed with cancer two weeks before I started classes. I didn’t tell her that I wasn’t sleeping and that my grades weren’t the best–it might have added to her depression. But, I would call her three times a day to reassure her that everything was OK.

When do you think a student should consider going away?

Students should always weigh their options. Compare their local colleges to colleges that are farther away. I felt that MIT would help me become a better engineer. You will find ways to overcome family difficulties. The most important thing is to find a place that offers opportunity, a place where you feel comfortable, challenged and happy.

Was there any concern that you’d change by leaving home?

We were raised with a very strong sense of our Mexican roots, and that followed me to Cambridge. One thing disappointed my mother: I lost my Spanish fluency. But I know I will build it up again.

What kind of support did you find on campus?

I went to the Office of Minority Education. They were so welcoming and helpful. The deans understood my challenges, and they even came to my financial aid meeting as advocates. I would have been lost without them. Students should immediately seek out people who will provide counseling, tutoring and help to find resources and scholarships.

Since leaving home, have you thought about moving back?

The thing that drives me to go back is the broken school system in my town. I feel compelled to increase opportunity and improve the high school graduation rate. The pipeline from rural areas to college communities is weak.

Did you have any coping mechanisms when you left home?

I surrounded myself with friends going through similar situations. These are friends that worked and studied hard. They pushed me academically and socially. I’m also working on building an organization for students who are the first in their families to attend college. It provides these students with a place to share their struggles, to meet others like themselves, to find support and to be in a safe haven.

This post is also available in: Spanish