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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Mexico will not be in the knockout round for the first time since 1978. -
The PodeRosas normally come together to root for women's soccer. But they're willing to make exceptions.
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Turns out it’s part of a long-term plan to boost voter turnout.
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The vote count, explained. Our Voter Game Plan team answers questions from readers like you.
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Still need to vote? No worries. Our cheat sheet has you covered.
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Once the application period closes, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles will randomly select 30,000 applicants for the waitlist.
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The Black & Gold beat Austin FC in a decisive 3-0 match on Sunday, and its spirited fans are gearing up to cheer from start to finish.
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The city opens its lottery for the Section 8 waitlist Monday, giving low-income tenants a chance to secure federal funding to subsidize their rent.
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The Los Angeles Football Club’s fandom wanted to enjoy games without hate speech. Here’s what they did to transform the sport in L.A.
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A step-by-step guide that explains what taxes may be owed on student loan forgiveness if you live in California.
