Ala Ahmad (University of Texas-Austin) on Educational Opportunity
March 23, 2012
Does Educational Opportunity Remain the Key to Success in the United States?
Sophomore Nataly Lopez knows exactly how much a semester costs at Baruch College in New York. An illegal Ecuadorian immigrant, Nataly works a full time job while attending school to save the $2, 805 she needs to attend another semester of school. As an illegal immigrant she is not eligible for federal funding or for most scholarships though she is a minority, lower-income, and high achieving. A March 14 New York Times article featured Nataly’s struggle and several advocacy groups who are attempting to help fund immigrant students.
Nataly and many other immigrant students, legal or illegal, face similar troubles in pursuing college and post-undergraduate degrees. New York has legislation pending to help finance many of these students, but advocacy groups such as the Fund for Public Advocacy and the New York Immigration Coalition, are filling the gap while legislation is still absent.
Nataly returned to college after she dropped out because of the realization that she “can’t do anything in this country” without a degree. Nataly’s struggle reminds me of my own in my fall semester of my senior year as an undergraduate. I realized that I couldn’t make the impact I wanted to make without a master degree or a PhD. I decided to apply to The University of Texas, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs. In pursuing a Master's degree, I take advantage of many opportunities. Growing up in a sheltered immigrant family, I have to actively pursue what I want.
Recognizing the importance of education in my life, I wanted to help students achieve success through their education. I began volunteering with Faruha House in Austin and its after school-tutoring program. Faruha House offers “culturally competent” services such as education, family, and legal help. They expanded their mission to include the increasing Iraqi refugee community in Austin.
As a volunteer, I help four to five Iraqi freshmen in high school with their homework. I tutor in Arabic, allowing them to bridge what they have learned in school prior to moving to the United States with what they are learning today. There are a lot of struggles that go along with learning a new language and a new system at 14-16 years of age. My students are behind by several years in math and other subjects. Hence, the tutoring is particularly crucial to helping them achieve success.
Americans have recently become disenchanted with achievement and learning, claiming that we are the 99% and that no matter how much we achieve, the 1% will always own everything. On the individual level, an Iraqi or Ecuadorian immigrant’s only chance at success in the US is to go to college and take advantage of educational opportunities for success. As an immigrant, I know that my undergraduate degree and my pursuit of a Master''s degree will help me make an impact.
a.ahmad@utexas.edu
Nataly returned to college after she dropped out because of the realization that she “can’t do anything in this country” without a degree. Nataly’s struggle reminds me of my own in my fall semester of my senior year as an undergraduate. I realized that I couldn’t make the impact I wanted to make without a master degree or a PhD. I decided to apply to The University of Texas, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs. In pursuing a Master's degree, I take advantage of many opportunities. Growing up in a sheltered immigrant family, I have to actively pursue what I want.
Recognizing the importance of education in my life, I wanted to help students achieve success through their education. I began volunteering with Faruha House in Austin and its after school-tutoring program. Faruha House offers “culturally competent” services such as education, family, and legal help. They expanded their mission to include the increasing Iraqi refugee community in Austin.
As a volunteer, I help four to five Iraqi freshmen in high school with their homework. I tutor in Arabic, allowing them to bridge what they have learned in school prior to moving to the United States with what they are learning today. There are a lot of struggles that go along with learning a new language and a new system at 14-16 years of age. My students are behind by several years in math and other subjects. Hence, the tutoring is particularly crucial to helping them achieve success.
Americans have recently become disenchanted with achievement and learning, claiming that we are the 99% and that no matter how much we achieve, the 1% will always own everything. On the individual level, an Iraqi or Ecuadorian immigrant’s only chance at success in the US is to go to college and take advantage of educational opportunities for success. As an immigrant, I know that my undergraduate degree and my pursuit of a Master''s degree will help me make an impact.
a.ahmad@utexas.edu
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