LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I am thrilled to read any article that touts the successes of Latinos, particularly at a time in our history when we are subject to such extreme racism and xenophobia. The article was very well written, but spoke mainly to the reasons why our pursuit of higher education has been lacking rather than why the rate of college enrollment is increasing. Personally, I think the former makes for a more interesting and productive conversation, but it is one that would require a whole SERIES of articles. There are too many variables to place all Latinos under one cause and effect blanket. Of particular interest to me would be an article addressing not the romantic struggle of first generation Americans finding better lives for themselves in a promised land, but of the millions of poor Latinos who have grown up in barrios and ghettos across this country and what growing up in a world of poverty and dysfunction does to their sense of self worth, ambition, and hope for their own futures. The Signal’s article touches briefly on the idea that finances and lack of awareness with regard to resources are issues, but does not address the deep seeded damage poverty and a lack of a solid educational foundation does to one’s psyche, particularly when it comes to something as complicated, demanding, and foreign as attending college.

Jose Castillo
Community member