First Person in Family to Attend College in the United States
I am honored to share my experience as the first person in my family to attend college in the United States (my father actually graduated from a two-year business college in our native Cuba).
I am the oldest of three siblings and we immigrated to the United States in 1970. My family did not put any pressure on me to go to college, but I always assumed I would. At a young age, I would always say I wanted to be a doctor — until a stray rock hit my head and I saw the sight of blood dripping from my wound. After that, I wanted to be a lawyer.
My education in the United States started in May 1970, toward the end of the school year. I only knew a few English words at the time, and took a remedial English class where I remember learning a few words while reading Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice." Over the next three years, I continued to learn the English language as I progressed through various school subjects. Lucky for me, the education I had received in Cuba by the 8th grade was in many ways more advanced than that being taught in the 9th grade in California. So I knew many of the concepts being taught in Biology, Math, Geography and other subjects and could focus on improving my English language skills.
I was able to graduate from high school with my class in 1973. However, my shortened not-quite-four-year high school tenure and lack of awareness of the requirements to attend college left me short of qualifying credits for regular admission to public colleges and universities. Thanks to the wisdom of leaders at the time, there was a program that recognized students’ potential and provided support for me to attend college.
I was admitted to the University of California, Riverside, through the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). The program provided educational and financial support. EOP started with a multi-week introduction-to-college summer program where certain skills and subject matter areas, such as English, were taught. It was the place that provided a solid foundation and where I met my wife.
EOP continued to provide counseling and educational support services during my undergraduate career, especially during the first year. After four years of hard work, and another, harder, three years at the University of California, Los Angeles, I was ready to join the world of full-time work, where learning never stops.
- Sam Reyes
