launicaleonela - Tumblr blog

launicaleonela · 2 years

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The A-F grading metric was never one that cared about hardship. With so much discussion around declining college rates, we should be direct about the privileges in American education systems. Many low-income and students of color aren't the ones to receive full-ride scholarships, straight A's, or the tools to study efficiently and make those possible. "If they can pass, you can pass" is a toxic mentality professors and teacher assistants perpetuated when I was an undergraduate. While each college and university has different challenges along the way, there are common trends I see perpetuated in academia. These trends are one reason I've doubted pursuing higher education in the future. While college isn't for everyone, I found so much value in my environmental degree and learning about the context of struggles in my community and environment. Even so, there are definitely issues worth pointing out. So for anyone considering college, here are some of struggles I experienced as a brown and low-income undergrad. 1) Elitism: The amount of students + professors that talked down on me with phrases like, "you should've learned this in high school", always made me cringe. Not all high schools are designed equally or have access to private tutors. 2) Classism: I always had 2-3 jobs per semester to afford rent, groceries, and other amenities. I remember hearing from some peers + professors, "You need to prioritize your studies and stop working." How can I think about my studies if I were to be evicted from my housing? They're the same people who write off systemic inequality with phrases like "well, we all have the same 24 hours in a day". 3) Racism: In a research lab, I had one of the professor advisors tell me, "I know people born in Mexico aren't the best writers when they come to the United States". I was born in Los Angeles. I was baffled. 4) Homophobia: Ever dealt with annoying frat boys? While they don't represent everyone, I was called a slur in a lab with graduate students. I felt pretty disturbed by how these people freely used rhetoric harmful to the Queer community and myself. While there are other issues that I did not experience (#3 up top), we must recognize how misogyny, sexism, and ableism are still apparent in colleges and universities, especially for low-income students of color. Finding my community in college helped me get through my undergraduate years. At this point in my life, I always think it's too late to go back. I at least want to be in a better state if I decide to go to graduate school. It's difficult having to be self sufficient from the age of 18. Since many American POC have been deprived of generational wealth, college has become out of the picture for many in Gen Z. Having to constantly worry about grades and learning, while double checking whether or not you have enough money to pay rent or eat dinner that week, isn't a situation we should expect from people. -queer brown vegan

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launicaleonela · 3 years

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