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I was born on December 6, 2001. My parents had met two years earlier. My dad had been in the U.S. the longest, about five years, and my mom for three. They both came for their own reasons: my mom originally saw her move as a kind of vacation, but she ended up loving it here and eventually met my dad. He came with the intention of making good money, sending some back home, and building a new life. Together, they started a family. My younger brothers were born on December 10, 2007, and May 15, 2016.

Not long after, my aunt on my mother’s side followed her path. She had two kids in Mexico before moving to the U.S. She married someone from here, which allowed her to gain legal status more quickly, and had two more children in Oregon. Although we don’t see them often because they live five hours away, when we do get together it’s always a good time. I often reflect on our family dynamic, the differences in our experiences, but also the similarities that connect us as first-generation Latinos.

Growing up with my siblings and cousins, we were exposed from a young age to our culture and where we came from. With that came a certain weight, and the understanding that we now had opportunities our parents didn’t have growing up. Absorbing lessons from both cultures and worlds made for an interesting mindset, one I recognize in many first-generation Latinos.

It’s something I still think about today: the weight and the excitement of being part of a larger community, while also experiencing it in my own unique way. As the first child, I developed a keen awareness of my environment. Spanish was my first language, while English came through school. Life at home and life outside sometimes felt like two different worlds, yet both shaped who I am. As I continue my education, I’ve become more aware of other voices and stories like mine, and like them hope to share mine with others.

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Aside from the storm trooper and witch to the top right, these are my cousins. This was Nine years ago. 

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My parents and I at the state fair, early 2000s. 

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My brothers, 6 and 15 years younger than me 

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My cousins, with the exception of the storm trooper (my brother) and the witch (My aunt)

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How have historical events shaped the experience of first generation Latinos? 

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How have historical events shaped the experience of first generation Latinos? 

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I chose this video because it highlights a lesser-known chapter in Latino history that shaped generational identity and struggle. It describes how during the mid-20th century, many Mexican and Mexican-American families were subject to mass repatriation efforts, forced or coerced to return to Mexico even though some had residency or citizenship in the U.S. These repatriation efforts both disrupted communities and spurred activism, leading to shifts in how Latino identity is politicized, how communities organize, and how younger generations (like me) understand rights and belonging.

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How have changes in culture shaped the experiences of first generation Latinos 

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How have changes in culture shaped the experiences of first generation Latinos 

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This was in 2022, ironically the first ever ofrenda we made as a family. It was an emotional time, but when November came around my parents knew they had to create one. It was eye-opening for me because I had never met my grandparents, and my dad hadn’t seen them since he came to the U.S. over 20 years ago. There was a heavy weight in that moment. We had lost uncles before, but it wasn’t until the passing of my grandparents within a single year that we felt moved to pay tribute. The ofrenda became a form of connection, even across thousands of miles. In our culture, ofrendas are a way to honor loved ones who have passed. They aren’t just symbolic; they represent a bridge between the living and the dead. For many first-generation families like mine, keeping traditions alive, especially Día de los Muertos, becomes a way to preserve identity across distance and generations. For my parents, the ofrenda was a way to reconnect with their parents after decades apart. For me and my brothers, it became a way to feel close to people we’d never met

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How have changes in environment shaped first generation Latinos?

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How have changes in environment shaped first generation Latinos?

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This is an hour-long conversation I found amongst first-generation Latinos that I related to deeply. In the video, several students share that even when they make it into college, they face financial insecurity, lack of guidance, and sometimes culturally or linguistically alienating environments.

In my family, I see echoes of these barriers. Although my parents came here with hopes for stability and opportunity, they didn’t have the chance to go through U.S. higher education themselves. For me, when I considered college, I realized there were hidden costs, application fees, financial aid deadlines, and navigating scholarship processes, that weren’t obvious growing up.

The institutional change is that schools and colleges are slowly becoming more aware of these barriers, pushing for programs that help first-gen students with mentorship, bilingual support, and financial aid. But the change are still uneven. Some institutions are more supportive than others.

Different members of my community experience these structural challenges differently. My parents, being immigrants with limited formal schooling in English, see institutional hurdles in everyday things, communication with schools, financial documentation, and understanding policies. For me and my siblings, some of those doors are more visible, though still not easy to open. Sometimes we act as interpreters or navigators for the older generation. In this way, the institutional environment shapes how we move, what we expect, and what we believe is possible.

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VIDEO: Latino Students Speak About Their Higher Education Experience

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Education is one of the most important issues for Latino families. Seven out of 10 Latinx students in higher education are the first in their families to go to college, […]