"My parents were very young when they immigrated to the United States from Mexico, seeking a better life. They started completely from scratch, struggling to learn the language and take care of their basic needs. Their sacrifice meant that I was able to attend school, something that was considered a true luxury in the small village where they grew up. However, their lack of understanding of the US school system coupled with our cultural tendency to not ask for help meant that I was left to figure out school on my own. The college application process was a particularly challenging time. I wasn't very involved with school, and my parents weren't keeping track of any deadlines, so I didn't even realize I had to take the SAT to apply to 4-years until it was too late. I ended up going to community college, and thankfully it was a truly amazing experience. I now make it my mission to mentor first-gen students and students from underrepresented backgrounds that need help navigating the educat...