
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 president-elect has pledged to carry out mass deportations.
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Four of the seven seats on the Los Angeles Community College District board are on the ballot.
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Muchos titulares van a pedir que los electores les confían a través de la crisis.
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A collaboration devised as part of Getty's PST ART taught students about environmental issues from the perspective of communities across the Americas.
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Advocates say barring formerly incarcerated students can keep them from securing gainful employment.
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A number of incumbents will ask voters to trust them through choppy waters.
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The campus is celebrating its centennial with a community party that includes plenty of food and music.
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A local for-profit college is making a hard sell to prospective students. But it’s always a good idea to explore your options.
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“Sinks: Places We Call Home,” part of the Getty's PST collaboration, highlights the impacts of toxic pollution and how community members are responding
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A group of local community college students spent the summer learning about climate change — and what they can do to take on the issue professionally.