ABSTRACT
Alba has had a long educational journey filled with hopes, dreams, sacrifices, heartaches, and disappointments. For 16 years, she worked her way through the educational system with plans to earn a Ph.D. and become a community college professor. Alba was 10 years old when she came to the United States. She had a difficult childhood living with a father who struggled with alcoholism and a mother who worked constantly to support the family. Alba’s parents separated when her mother came to the United States, and two years later, Alba and her siblings joined her. Although Alba is humble about her academic performance in middle school, she was a top student in her graduating class, earning a spot in a high school magnet program for accelerated students. With her dream still alive, Alba moved forward with applying to community college. Alba’s university experience came with a new set of positive and negative experiences.
