I live in Marysville with my parents and my sibling—we both attend Everett Community College. I’m close to finishing my AA in General Arts & Sciences, and most days are a careful balance: shifts as a phlebotomist, hours at Amazon, then homework squeezed in around family dinners and weekend gatherings with our big extended clan. It’s a full life, and I’m proud of how much I carry for my family, but it’s also a lot.
I chose community college because I wasn’t ready to leave home. As the oldest, my parents rely on me, and I rely on them. I actually turned down a four-year scholarship in Hawaii because I couldn’t imagine leaving them yet. EvCC is 30 minutes away; I can study, work, and still show up for my family.
Career-wise, I’m taking honest baby steps. I started in phlebotomy and may stay there a bit while I sort out what’s next. I’ll graduate with my AA next year and then decide. I’ve learned that moving forward steadily is better than leaping so far I can’t land on my feet.
College hasn’t been affordable for me. My FAFSA didn’t get approved when I started, and I was a full-time student with an empty wallet. I took on three jobs just to cover tuition. Even splitting payments into two installments barely helped—most paychecks disappeared into tuition, with whatever was left going to gas, car maintenance, and food. Medical science courses in particular add up fast: three to four thousand dollars for a term can swallow everything.
That’s why I support guaranteeing the first two years of college at community and technical colleges. I don’t want other students to have to live the way I did—exhausted, always calculating whether another shift means a missed assignment. Free two years would let people focus on learning instead of surviving. So many talented students—especially immigrants—give up because the numbers just don’t work. I almost did.
Basic needs supports matter too, and they need to be culturally aware. Yes, there’s a pantry—but canned and frozen items don’t fit everyone’s diet or faith traditions. I’m Pakistani; the foods that restore my energy aren’t usually on those shelves. A restricted food stipend or EBT-style benefit for students—structured for groceries, not retail—would respect different cultures while meeting real nutrition needs. It helped my family in the past; it could help students stay in school now.
Transferring into college as a first-generation student was rough. I didn’t even know which website to use or how to apply. My counselor was overloaded and often didn’t reply. What would help? Step-by-step workshops at high schools (and online), clear videos posted on college homepages, and advisors who offer options instead of “pick one class and good luck.” Evening/Zoom availability matters for students who work. Answer emails. Suggest alternatives that still move a degree forward. Save students’ time and money.
On mental health: I’m not in crisis—I’m just tired. Two jobs plus full-time school will do that. Rest, food, and sleep are my coping plan. But that’s exactly why services should be visible and easy to access when the load gets heavier.
If colleges want students like me to succeed, hire more advisors who will walk with us from application to enrollment—no dropping us halfway. Make FAFSA/WASFA simpler and faster, with plain-language guidance for first-gen and multilingual families. And yes, make the first two years free if at all possible. There are so many of us ready to do the work. We just need a system that meets us halfway.