Abstract: Rachel Carrion grew up in Pacifica, a small town just a few miles out of San Francisco. Rachel's parents never had the chance to go to college due to her parents early marriage and mother's early pregnancy. One of three children, Rachel is the eldest and the first in her immediate family to attend college.
Entering high school, Rachel went to Sacred Hart Cathedral Preparatory, a well-known private school in the heart of San Francisco. Unfortunately, Rachel had to leave because her parents could no longer afford the expenses of a private school. As a result, Rachel arrived at Oceana high school in Pacifica, afraid, but ready to challenge herself and do everything she possibly could to graduate and go to college.
Rachel did not have much of an influence from her parents because they did not know what to expect from college. They had only fulfilled, at the most, two years at community college and could only assume what "college" was really like. However, Rachel received encouragement from her parents to do her best and work hard to come out on top.
Rachel received a lot of help from counselors at her high school as well, which allowed her to fulfill the requirements of getting into college. She sees a lot of importance in attending college simply for the future and that "you can't afford not to go." Much of Rachel's graduating class did not go to college or settled for community college.
Rachel is a Liberal and Civic Studies major, hoping to someday become an elementary school teacher. She has a job working with young Hispanic children, motivating her to achieve her goal as a teacher. Rachel has surrounded herself with good people. She carries on strong family values of dedication and faith. These values have kept her grounded and able to achieve what she sees as a dream. Rachel wants other first generation college students to take on the opportunity of becoming something. Today she attends St. Mary's College and believes she could not be in a better place in her life
Keywords: faith, family, teacher, mentors
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