As a first-generation Salvadoran-American student at Cal State Northridge, pursuing higher education is both an opportunity and a responsibility. I am working to overcome financial strain, generational barriers, and the weight of navigating academic systems that no one in my family has experienced before. My mother fled El Salvador during the civil war and has spent decades in physically demanding jobs to provide stability for us. Her sacrifices pushed me to pursue college, yet they also highlight the financial limitations we face every semester.
Growing up, we lived paycheck to paycheck, and financial insecurity shaped many of my decisions. College was never guaranteed—it felt like something I had to fight for. Although my mother has always encouraged my education, she cannot contribute financially, and her limited English means she cannot guide me through paperwork, university processes, or academic expectations. These challenges have required me to learn everything on my own: how to navigate FAFSA, how to seek out grants, how to balance part-time work with full-time classes, and how to stay committed even when financial stress feels overwhelming.
Being first-generation also means carrying emotional responsibility. I often feel the pressure of knowing that my mother’s sacrifices are tied to my success, and that I am pursuing the opportunities she never had. There is no safety net if I fail, and that reality pushes me to work harder, but it also comes with anxiety and the constant need to prove that I belong in higher education spaces. Despite these obstacles, I am determined to continue my studies in the humanities, because storytelling, cultural expression, and community work have always been where I find purpose.
Since I was seventeen, I’ve been involved with Get Lit – Words Ignite, a nonprofit that uses poetry to amplify youth voices. My work there—first as a volunteer and now as an intern—has shown me how powerful creative expression can be for immigrant youth and students of color. Many young people face the same challenges I do: financial instability, language barriers, and the struggle to feel seen in academic settings. My dream is to create nonprofit programs that support these students, offering them access to creative spaces, mentorship, and mental health resources grounded in community and cultural understanding.
This scholarship would help ease the financial pressure that threatens to disrupt my education. It would allow me to focus more fully on my coursework, on building my skills in nonprofit leadership, and on continuing the community work that has shaped my identity. More importantly, it would help me move closer to creating programs that empower marginalized youth—work that honors both my mother’s sacrifices and the legacy of Sharon L. Smartt, who dedicated her life to uplifting students through the humanities.
By pursuing higher education, I hope to break cycles of limitation in my family, create opportunities for others, and transform the challenges I have faced into meaningful change for my community.
Growing up as a bi-racially mixed Indigenous Native American/African American woman on an Indian Reservation, I faced the challenge of feeling like an outsider due to these factors alone. Since 2011, our family has experienced the loss of nine close family members. Dealing with these losses has been incredibly tough, with very little support. My mother passed away from congestive heart failure, and I took care of my grandmother until she passed away from COVID-19 and pneumonia. Understanding my psychological barriers as I grew up was a challenge, and I later realized that I repeated some of the same mistakes my late mother made while raising me as a single parent. I was often told as a child, "I did not come with a book of instructions." I've made mistakes, but I must forgive myself and look towards the future with confidence and resilience.
My late beloved mother, along with my late auntie and grandmother, were instrumental mentors in my life. Each imparted valuable perspectives, inner strength, and interpersonal values rooted in our cultural heritage of "Shaker Faith and Longhouse Spirituality." By honoring their memory, I proudly carry our family name, confidently embracing life's challenges and fulfilling my responsibilities.
I am a single parent of four beautiful children of my own. I have three daughters and a son—oldest to youngest: 16, 15, 11, and 7. I am doing my best to make it day-to-day with what little we have, and I recently found a better place to live/stay. The struggles of living in a temporary shelter are “REAL.” I worry daily about our valuable belongings while trying to mind my "P's and Q's," so I am not excited for any reason. I wake up daily, catch the bus, and tackle my daily tasks. Lugging my children around with me on the bus route can be extremely difficult, especially when my younger kiddoes’ get tired of walking.
While attending classes at Northwest Indian College, I earned 38 credits toward my associate’s degree as a General Direct Transfer–while taking all the required courses to earn my educational credentials. These qualifications have certified me in Advocacy or Tribal Law, a field in which I am confident and competent. Next semester, I will decide on which career path to choose. Later on in the future, my long-term goal is to start a nonprofit organization for rape victims, providing security around the clock and male and female counselors on standby-24/7. I genuinely feel the crime rate for rape will decrease significantly after the community sees there is a haven for victims.
Fall classes begin in September. I will devote my time and energy to being a full-time student to bring my GPA back to my ideal mindset of where I should be educationally. Applying for scholarships and grants is necessary to avoid costly student loans that could take years to repay. Providing materialistic wants and needs for my children is not possible without the help of this scholarship.
After deciding on a career path that will benefit everyone in Indian Country or any community I choose to serve, I am determined to earn my associate's and bachelor's degrees. These qualifications will be the certified tools to help individuals who have made unhealthy choices or have slipped through the system’s cracks. With my knowledge, skills, and hands-on personal experience, I am confident that I can make a significant, positive impact in the near future. I am unwavering in my commitment to turning negatives into positives. Thank you for allowing me to apply for your educational financial support gift aid. Take care.
