My name is Ariana Arreguin Mendoza. I’m 21 years old. I’m originally from Mexico, Michoacan. I have about five years living here in the United States. I’m from Wenatchee. But I moved to Federal Way to attend the University of Washington Tacoma.
I chose to go to college because it was something that my mom wanted me to do. I wanted to show my mom that I will continue with my education, not just work. Learn new skills, practice my English, and be someone in life.
I believe two years of free college would be a big support for many students. I say this because the first two years of college are the hardest. It’s new for many students. The college environment can be new for many students like me. How I moved to Tacoma from Wenatchee. Not just the environment, but also financially. Many Hispanic/Latino students come from parents who work in the fields, who don’t make enough to support their son or daughter with college. My mom works in the fields and she doesn’t have enough money to support me with school. Making the two years of college free will help the students to save this way so they can use this money for the last two years of school. College is expensive. It would be a great support for students.
Inflation has and will continue to impact many students until there is a solution. It leaves students to not know if they should continue paying for school or pay for rent, groceries, etc. But many times, the student will make the decision to pay for rent instead of school because they will believe it’s the right decision to make. It doesn’t lead the student to not think that school is not important. Students right now are trying to survive.
I have utilized the free resources the school provides. The school does provide free food. But sometimes the food is not the healthiest. I have also used the counseling center we have here. But they need to improve a lot. For example, I believe there needs to be better support for Hispanic/Latino students. I feel more comfortable speaking in Spanish than English. I believe there should be a counselor that speaks Spanish because I felt that I couldn’t open up as much as I wanted to, which is one of the reasons why I stopped going. Even for you to schedule an appointment with them. They take a long time. Weeks or months to reach out to you. I just didn’t feel comfortable going anymore. I believe they should continue these free resources in colleges, but they do need to do better.
I believe the paid pathways for undocu-students should pass and become a bill because the impact would positively help the students. It will help many Hispanic/Latino students, who come from immigrant families to achieve their goals and dreams. Many of these students are the future of the state.
Ariana Mendoza, Federal Way