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Lissa Castillo Higueros

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Bio

Hi I’m Lissa! I’m the oldest in my family, first gen college student. I have 3 younger siblings and was raised by a single mother. My goals in life are a little unclear but I do know that I want to help others the way I wished i had been helped. Specifically in regards to my education, I want to study our society and the way it functions. What established gender roles? What began the racial and economic divide between people and how is it still so deeply ingrained in our society? Why is religion so wide spread and fundamental to some, but not all? These are the type of questions and topics I want to find answers too. I am passionate to learn and to succeed in the future I have envisioned.

Education

Whittier College

Bachelor's degree program
2021 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • International/Globalization Studies
    • History
  • Minors:
    • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other

Downey High School

High School
2017 - 2021

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Higher Education

    • Dream career goals:

      Non-profit leader

    • Caregiver

      Ihss
      2020 – Present5 years
    • Caregiver

      Cordova consulting
      2022 – Present3 years
    • Election worker

      La county elections
      2020 – 2020

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Surya Education Assistance Scholarship
    Money and influence, this is why I am pursuing an education. The standard of living has risen significantly in ways that puts those of low income at a huge disadvantage. As a first generation college student from a Hispanic family, my goal is to make the money and have the influence to not only comfortably support my family but also have enough to give to others who need it. I have a large family, raised by single women living paycheck to paycheck. My grandmother is in her sixties and works the night shift as part of the airport cleaning crew to make money that barely pays her rent and bills. She was recently given medical leave due to a work related injury and not having the luxury of retirement just yet, she plans to continue working for as long as she can. My mother is a stay at home mom who receives help from the government because my brother, age 7, needs 24/7 care. This government help, as well as all my mothers savings, is what has helped us live comfortably recently, but we are still struggling at times. My two younger sisters 7 and 3 also need constant supervision. Mia(7) has behavioral problems due to a missing chromosome and Daniella (2) was diagnosed with level 3 autism. As the oldest in my family I juggle school, work and work study, as well as caring for my family daily because I want to give my family the luxury of not worrying about bills being paid. I know that there are always struggling families out there, 1 in 7 Americans are a paycheck away from homelessness, and I want to have the money and influence in life to help. To give others the chance I feel I didn’t always have. I want to be successful in a way that guarantees not only luxuries I would wish to afford but also just the basic comfortability in life. No worries about bills being paid or not having enough food in our kitchen and having money I can spare to others, in a good tip at a restaurant or a donation to an organization. Even to scholarships such as this one, aiming to help others succeed. I feel that listing money as a reason for success is always met with a negative response. Constant retorts of “money doesn’t buy happiness.” For some people, however, it’s not happiness it’s buying. It’s food, water, shelter, and good hygiene. It’s going home to your kids at a reasonable hour and not working multiple jobs to meet the rent that’s due and the bills that need to be payed. I want to earn a comfortable living wage that will support me and my family and others if I can. I want to pay my bills and rent without the constant stress and anxiety my family faced growing up. I want to pursue a higher education to make money, because I deserve to live a comfortable life and because my family deserves to experience living, not just surviving.
    Lissa Castillo Higueros Student Profile | Bold.org