i officially joined the 8% of latinas with a master’s degree. it still doesn’t feel real. there were so many endless nights, studying, crying, rewriting papers, sacrificing sleep and social life just to keep showing up. but i always knew my education had to come first. why? because it’s the one thing no one can ever take away from me. as a first-gen student, i carried more than just books on my back, i carried the weight of my mom’s sacrifices. every milestone, every degree, is rooted in her strength. i couldn’t have done this without her. despite people trying to tear you down or second guess your worth, you keep going. and that’s what i did. i started off as a lost baby deer my freshman year in the dorms at sac state just trying to figure out where i belonged. and somehow, in the blink of an eye, i found myself teaching communication as a graduate student at university of the pacific, teaching my students everyday, but learning from them and my professors all at once. breaking the cycle isn’t easy. but standing here today, i’m so glad i did. this degree isn’t just mine but it’s for every little girl who doesn’t see herself represented, for every first-gen student who feels the pressure, and for every latina who wonders if she’s capable. you are. love and embrace being a student, because it will fly by before you know it! 🐯🧡