Idalia is a tenth-grade student at East Valley High School with big dreams of working in healthcare. She hopes to study ultrasound technology and eventually become a nurse-midwife. Coming from a Mexican family, she has seen firsthand how immigration challenges and financial stress affect families, even when parents have worked hard to get their documents in order.
Right now, college feels intimidating. Paying for tuition and other expenses would likely mean working long hours or taking on debt, all while helping care for her younger brother after school because her parents work all day. That responsibility is heavy, and the stress of money makes thinking about college even harder.
Free college would change everything. It would remove the constant worry about how to pay and allow her to focus on her education without placing more strain on her parents, who are already struggling financially. It would also help her support her siblings and build a better future for her family.
After moving to Washington from Idaho, where she experienced racism and felt out of place, Idalia found a more supportive environment—one where educators and leaders encourage students who look like her to dream bigger. She believes that when Latino students have access to college, the benefits reach far beyond the individual. An educated student strengthens their family, their community, and the state as a whole. That’s why she believes free college is not just support for students—it’s an investment in a better future for everyone.