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 city of Los Angeles has announced that on Oct. 17 it will reopen its waitlist for the Section 8 housing voucher program. Here's everything you need to know to apply. -
Organizers with Communities for A Better Environment say the tours have a dual purpose: discussing environmental injustice, and organizing communities to fight it.
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Pakistani officials say wealthier nations have a moral obligation to pitch in for relief. Some Angelenos want to do that and more.
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Look past the headlines and you’ll find a new public space Angelenos are making their own. Here are some of their stories.
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A growing number of teacher-educators are getting on board with the idea that the best way to teach dyslexic students is also the best way to teach all students.
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The debate around student loan repayment in the United States often focuses on individual responsibility, but student loan debt didn't grow to $1.75 trillion without federal and state policy.
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Pandemic-related supply issues and strong customer demand mean that dealers can sell cars at or above the suggested retail price.
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The company is now offering a reward for information to help catch a suspect responsible for a string of robberies.
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Critics are raising concerns about cleaning efforts, accusing state contractors of engaging in "unsafe clean-up practices and worker abuse."
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To help firefighters work without disruption, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has teamed up with the L.A. branch of the FBI.
