Written by Lori Salazar
October 26, 2022
Growing up as a first-generation Latinx college student, I faced many struggles throughout my educational career. During my first year, I failed an entire semester's worth of classes, got placed on academic probation, and had to choose to either withdraw from the university or retake my classes. I contemplated dropping out, but I decided to give it another shot. I am glad that I did. I retook my classes, I changed my major, and I created positive relationships with my academic advisors. I got involved in several student organizations that encouraged me to do well academically and I graduated with honors. Two years after graduation, my boss asked me if I had thought about attending graduate school for my master’s degree. I felt honored that she thought I would succeed in a program.
I knew that this was a huge decision to make and it was going to be a challenge but that it was a risk I was willing to take. Risk to apply to graduate school and have faith in where the road would take me. I took the leap of faith and applied with her guidance and support. Fast forward to today, I am in my second year of the doctorate program at SCU. In 2008, I thought I was going to drop out. But it's because of the advisors, student organizations, community, and staff that helped me persevere and graduate. It was because of my willingness to give it another shot and take risks. It was the mentors that believed in me. It was internship supervisors who saw my potential. I continue to learn from my journey and use it as fuel to keep striving towards my goals. It is because of my own journey that I am now focusing on Latinx retention and representation in higher education for my dissertation and future projects such as my podcast, Through My Latina Lens. This project has encouraged me to dig deeper into the stories of others around me and share their journey with others. This podcast has given me the opportunity to learn about my Abuelita’s strength as a single mother of 7, my mother’s unlimited support throughout my brother and I’s educational career as first-generation college students, my friend’s journey as a mother with terminal ovarian cancer, and much more.
What I have learned thus far is to take those risks, be willing to learn, be brave, and challenge yourself.
Lori Salazar is the Associate Director for the Center for Student Involvement. She is also the co-lead for the Campus Engagement Working Group where she enjoys connecting with campus partners and students. Prior to her role as the Associate Director she was the Assistant Director for Student Organizations where she became the expert in all things RSO (registered student organizations).