Julia Barajas
I explore how college students achieve their goals — whether they’re fresh out of high school, or going back for the first time in years — and what support they get along the way.
My exposure to college began when I was a high school senior. In all my years of schooling, I’d never been assigned anything written by a person of Mexican descent, despite growing up in L.A. County. So when a brochure for East Los Angeles College appeared in my family’s mailbox, I tried out dual enrollment, and took an introductory Chicano Literature course. We read everything from Tomás Rivera’s “... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him” to Bernice Zamora’s “Notes from a Chicana ‘COED.’” And what I learned there — about writing, about history, and about myself — stayed with me. It informed my decision to major in literature and Latin American studies when I went on to earn a four-year degree, and it continues to shape the work I do now.
My hope is that all college students will get a similar chance to chart a course for themselves, guided by their own curiosities and ambitions.
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The sinkhole, a product of powerful winter storms, posed a serious safety risk. -
Education Department says issues are fixed, begs remaining students to submit.
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The city council wants greater transparency in how millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent to address L.A.'s unhoused crisis.
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The Men of Color Action Network's annual conference gives students and professionals a chance to share resources and rethink higher ed.
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Even if your old grades are not stellar, you can still move forward with your academic goals.
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A program at East Los Angeles College pushes students to think critically about how museums shape our views and how to make them more inclusive.
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Across the country, transfer rates remain bleak. Here’s how UCLA’s Scholars Program is working to change that.
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The famous and pesky “ankle biters” are back after a couple months of record rain. Plus, how you can mosquito-proof your surroundings.
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At Los Angeles City College, students turn toward financial literacy to chart a new path.
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Rain can make some allergens more potent, and it’s not just pollen you have to worry about.
