Graduating high school and are a Latino?

September 16, 10:50 PMChicago Latino Community ExaminerSonia Gandara

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I was walking home with my iPod on full blast, when all of a sudden from the corner of my eye, I noticed someone waving at me trying to get my attention. It was a young man. He noticed my Texas Longhorns book bag and asked me if I was in college. I told him I already graduated but that I attended Columbia College. The Texas Longhorns book bag was merely a compulsive purchase when I was on “vay-cay” in Texas, but I digress.

His name was Manuel. He told me he was 17-years-old and that he’s a senior in high school. Manuel began to ask me several questions about my college experiences and college in general. I tried to answer his questions as best as I could, and I encouraged him to continue his studies because a higher education was so worth it. I told him that unfortunately, in our neighborhood (Little Village), we grow up thinking that we are supposed to be less than what we are actually capable of. Children, and I do mean children, join gangs or even get pregnant and have children of their own. This is especially so in minority neighborhoods as we don’t have the resources other wealthier neighborhoods have. Our schools simply don’t get enough funding for afterschool programs, which leaves our children in the streets with those few bad apples.

I was happy to see that there are some students who are making an effort to move forward. I was also happy that I’m still walking the streets of Little Village setting the example that college is possible for Latinos, and that students like Manuel have me around to answer those college questions.

If you are graduating high school, or know someone who is, below are some links of organizations that offer scholarships, scholarship directories, and organizations that offer tips for students:

-Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)

-United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI)

-Scholarships for Hispanics

-The Gates Millennium Scholars

-Hispanic College Fund

-Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

Hurry up and apply as deadlines are near in some cases! 

  Photo by Michael Brandy, Deseret Morning News