Even though parents are often appalled  at the thought of their little girls leaving home for college, more and more Latinas are choosing to leave the nest.

Leaving home

Gisela, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Davis, was the first in her family to graduate from high school and go on to college. She is one of many young Latinas who are challenging traditions and leaving home to pursue a college education. But it wasn’t easy. 

Gisela said, “When I told my parents I was accepted to the University of California at Davis they were like, ‘Who do you think is going to let you go?’” Unbelievably, they were not going to let her go. She had not predicted they would disagree with her plan to attend college away from home. Crushed, but not defeated, she contacted a UC representative who worked with her parents and set up a visit. After visiting the campus and talking to Latino staff members, her dad was much more at ease and supported her decision. She told LàTeen, “Attending college away from home is one of the best life decisions I have made.”    

Many feel that leaving home for college is not yet the norm in Latino culture. It may still even be the case that the majority of Latinas leave their parents’ homes only after they get married. Gisela said she felt the expectations for young Latinas continue to be a little behind the times in this country. “However, I do think this trend is slowly changing and more Latinas are leaving their parents’ homes to attend college. I believe this has to do with awareness.”

First in my family

Many young Latinas are the first generation to be born here in the United States, and they face the difficult challenge of living in between two cultures. Their parents’ expectations may clash with the cultures and attitudes outside their front door. They may value keeping family traditions alive that don’t always fit into the “Anglo” model of success. Latinas have therefore had to learn how to be a part of both worlds: the new and the traditional.
  

“We are capable of maintaining our culture, values, and beliefs as we aspire to become part of the professional world as well,” said Fatima Jaimes, a bright Latina who recently graduated from college. She sees this as a positive new standard for Hispanic teens.    Heading to college is not only motivated by a desire to succeed, but also by the desire of many young Latinas for greater independence. Not to have a mom bugging you all the time is a strong motive for moving out. They only have the best interests at heart, but let’s be honest, sometimes moms can overworry. Gisela’s mom admitted, “I knew it (college) was something good for her future but I didn’t want to let her go because I was afraid something bad would happen to her.”

 It wasn’t that Gisela’s parents didn’t support her decision to go to college, they just wanted her to stay close to home.

 ¿ Y la familia?

Leaving the family nest to pursue education is a new idea for many Latino families and one that takes some getting used to. Many parents are hesitant to support their kids going off to college because the students will be on their own and surrounded by other “bad” influences.   

“My parents were supportive of my decision although they still had their reservations about me being away by myself,” said Fatima Jaimes. “I think their main concern was that something bad could happen to me and that I would change.”   

Some Latino parents have become more “Americanized” and don’t see this issue as a threat. They see an opportunity for their children to succeed. Isn’t this the reason they came to this country, searching for a better way of life?

Changing cultures

Kelly Menjivar, a college and law school graduate who is currently working as a lawyer, commented on how her parents helped her make the decision to attend college away from home. “Fortunately, because my parents are more Americanized and did not want me to get married young they supported my decision. I guess the culture has evolved to accept the pursuit of higher education and all it entails,” she said.   

Allowing Latinas to become more independent has both challenged and benefited the structure of the traditional Latino family. Families are very close-knit and having children away from home is a difficult thing, especially when it means seeing them only a few times a year. But families have benefited from the new opportunities for Latinas, who are now entering professional fields that were not available in the past. Latinas are getting jobs in fields like government and education, where they have the power to make important decisions that can help provide better opportunities for all Latinos.

Challenges

Pursuing a college education in this country hasn’t been easy. While Latinos are the nation’s largest minority population, they are behind all other ethnic groups in getting college degrees and lead the country in high school dropout rates. Facts like these only drive more and more young Latinas to pursue a college education. Already in the past few years the number of Latinas attending college has increased a lot and promises to grow even more. Gisela said, “Education is a powerful tool. It may even serve as a vehicle to change the existing cultural norms among Latinos.”

All alone sin mama

Deciding to leave home is not an easy choice. Knowing that you will be alone in a new city among people that you don’t know can be scary. It is important to research the school and its location to make sure it is a place where you want to live. Getting a feel for what to expect will make the experience easier.

“Leaving home for college was both exciting and terrifying at the same time,” said Cynthia Alvarez, a current university student. “When I look back now, I’m so glad that I decided to go away to school. It’s a time to grow and find out who you really are.”    Being on your own at an early age is difficult but those challenges can be overcome if you are prepared and have goals.

Breaking the mold

There’s a common theme among young Latina women who have left home at an early age: the thirst to break cultural barriers and negative stereotypes. These girls don’t want to be another statistic in teen pregnancy or high school dropout rates. They recognize it won’t be an easy road but it’s one they are willing to take because they know it will lead to a better future.    

Gisela summarized, “I think young Latinas are finally realizing the importance of education and helping their parents realize this too.”