Hometown: Brentwood, CA
Education: Randall Elementary
Bristow Middle School
Liberty High School
Religion: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Abstract: My name is Roxanne Alvarez. I was born November 10, 1987 in San Jose. I grew up in an urban area of Milpitas and a suburban area of Brentwood. I am the first generation to be born in the United States. I am also the first in my family to attend college in the United States, making me a first generation college student.
For over twenty years my father has had a blue-collar job as an auto body technician, and my mother is a sales director. My parents wanted my siblings and me to have a great education, because they did not finish their education. They did not want us to suffer and have to work at a young age like they did. Milpitas was not the best place to grow up in. We were surrounded by low class social groups with no desire to achieve the American dream and a school system that was overpopulated and had no control over the children.
When I was twelve we moved to Brentwood, a small farm community. It was calm, quiet, had great schools, and good neighborhoods. One year after we moved, my mom, my sister, my brother, and I were involved in a car accident. We all had injuries, but my sister was near death. I was inspired by the doctors at Children s Hospital Oakland, who saved her life and took care of her for almost three months After this incident, I decided I was going to be a pediatrician.
I graduated from middle school and entered Liberty High School. I knew I had to do well in school, but there was only one problem: I had nobody to help me. I had a bad high school counselor. He did not believe in me and told me to apply to a community college or a state university. I went into the high school's career center and found pamphlets on different colleges and their prerequisites upon entering college. I planned out my schedule for the next four years. I read that I had to take these tests and prepared for them. I also joined the Health Careers Academy at the high school so I could learn anything about being a pediatrician.
I ignored my high school counselor's advice and applied to Saint Mary's College. I knew it was an expensive school, buy my mom said not to worry. I was accepted into Saint Mary's and I am now a freshman. My parents' support helped my dream come true of going to college to be a pediatrician.
Keywords: family, blue collar, pediatrician, faith, first generation
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