By Rafael Osés, Assistant Professor of English

My parents emigrated from Cuba in the mid-1950s and early 1960s, respectively. When they arrived in the United States, they had to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture, and they never had the opportunity to pursue their studies. But they nevertheless worked hard and made sacrifices to provide those opportunities for their children.

We went to college because our parents valued education and emphasized the transformative possibilities it could offer to my sister Gloria and me. She always loved school and would teach class to stuffed animals in her bedroom when we were kids. However, as our parents had no experience in navigating the procedures and responsibilities of higher education, it was incumbent on us to learn how to learn.

Despite many setbacks and obstacles as first-generation students, we persevered and have devoted our professional lives to teaching in order to provide the essential privilege of education to others and encourage them to further their knowledge so they can create their own paths toward a better future.