At Yakima Valley College, I am working on my prerequisites for the dental hygiene program, determined to earn my degree and eventually build a career in health care. I chose community college because it was the most affordable path compared to a university, but even with scholarships from YVC Foundation and the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, the costs still weigh heavily.
In my very first week, I spent $500 just on books. Add to that the gas for a 30-minute commute and the cost of food while on campus, and the burden goes far beyond tuition. Many of my classmates face the same challenge—working one or two jobs just to get by. For competitive programs like dental hygiene, where grades determine entry, students are at risk of losing their place not because of ability, but because financial pressures keep them from focusing on school.
I’ve learned that support services like tutoring, food pantries, and counseling exist, but too often students don’t know about them until it’s too late. And for undocumented students, opportunities like work-study aren’t even available, leaving them with even fewer options.
Free community and technical college would remove the greatest financial barrier for students like me. But we also need stronger wrap-around supports—navigators, mental health services, food access, and inclusive opportunities—so that first-generation students can not only enroll, but graduate and enter careers that Washington’s communities urgently need.