Low-Income & First Generation College Students In L.A. Surviving a Pandemic
Leaning on my headboard while I sit in my bed with a school loaner laptop on my legs has become my Monday through Thursday routine as those are the days I have online classes at CSUN. Falling asleep most of the time when I’m supposed to be present and active via “Zoom university” has been my biggest struggle since the start of the pandemic. As part of a big household who shares a room with her siblings and doesn’t have a desk to study in, being in class while my family is having breakfast, getting ready for work, and having loud conversations about their plans for the day, I’m sure is something relatable to fellow first generation college students. Many of us don’t have the quiet time and space to concentrate with school assignments as there’s always noise and distractions at home. Low-income students have struggled to afford their own place, school, and living expenses in a city as overpriced as Los Angeles. On top of that we’re experiencing a global pandemic which has made it a burden just trying to survive this uniquely rough year.
It is no one’s fault but it sure is reality. As the world faces and battles the coronavirus, students are forced to take online courses and avoid socializing with others. Added to that, the high unemployment rate in the country affects the already low-income students who are struggling to continue with their education. 27% of first generation college students come from households with an income of $20,000 or less, according to the Institute of Education Sciences. The amount of low-income students attending colleges and universities has increased in the last 25 years. The majority of those are students of color where Hispanics take the lead. However, many struggle financially during their first year in college and are forced to ask for loans. Other students are still living at home because they can’t afford paying for a bigger place in which they’ll have privacy and a quiet space to study. Tuition fees, rent, and all other living expenses in L.A. as a low-income, becomes a hassle added to the stress of home schooling during a global pandemic. It’s too many things at once that’s been pushing first generation college students into not finding the way out.
Just two years ago, CSUN had a 38% enrollment population identified as first generation students. A slightly higher rate compared to the 35% in 2014.
The above chart shows statistics from the San Fernando Valley, place where most low-income and first generation students interviewed live, including myself. The Valley’s population with a Bachelor’s degree or higher is about 10% bigger than the rate in Los Angeles County. The numbers are also slightly higher than the rate in California.
“We are hopeful for our lives to go back to normal after this disease is over. I can’t wait until the world finds peace and becomes free again from this tragedy known as COVID-19.”
-Aleisa Sandoval
One thing all these students share in common is their hope and perseverance. They’re battling a pandemic but they will not quit until they accomplish their goal of becoming the first ones in their family to graduate from college. They want to set the example for their loved ones and for generations to come.
