By Rosita Ventura-Gomez

As the Chowchilla Union High School Class of 2024 receives their diplomas and heads into a new chapter, four high school graduates will now be the first in their families to attend college.

“It feels nice. It’ll make my family proud of what they couldn’t do,” said Sherlyn Gomez, who will be the first not only to receive a high school diploma but also to attend a four-year university.

(In the middle of this photo is Sherlyn Gomez waiting to graduate.)

Gomez, a first-generation student, will soon pack her bags and move to the dorms at California State University, San Jose, this August to start her new chapter as a college student. There, Gomez will major in Business Administration and International Business and minor in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, aiming to one day land a job that will allow her to travel around the world.

The hopes and dreams of a better life are also felt by Ciara Meza, who will be attending Fresno City College this summer to continue her passion as a creative and a problem solver by majoring in Marketing.

“I have a specific life I want in my head,” said Meza. “I know I can’t achieve anything unless I keep going and stay determined in school.”

(Ciara Meza waiting to in line to receive her dipolma.)

This belief that Meza holds about needing to work hard to achieve the American Dream is a mindset shared by many first-generation students. According to Francisco Tostado, an Extended Opportunities Programs & Services (EOPS) director for Merced College, receiving a higher education allows for millions of doors to open to first-generation students who don’t have the connections or access.

“The socioeconomic mobility that education provides is by far the best equalizer to move from poverty to middle class, to middle class to upper middle class,” said Director Tostado.

In the 2020 United States Census, only 13.5% of Chowchilla’s population holds a higher education degree, while the state average is 37.0%.

As Chowchilla Union High School graduates make their college journeys a reality, they carry with them their own aspirations, hopes, and dreams, along with those of their families and communities.

Another first-generation student, Emiliano Vera-Martinez, will be attending California State University, Fresno, this August to pursue a degree in Criminology/Law Enforcement. Vera-Martinez’s passion for law and criminology came from his CTE Public Safety class, a pathway class that prepares students for careers in public safety. He is thrilled for his first semester of college, the new opportunities, new friends, and a new perspective on life that Vera-Martinez feels that he would not gain if he did not attend college.

(Emiliano Vera-Martinez waits in line to graduate.)

“I want to become a detective! After I graduate from college, I’m planning to join the Academy since it’s always been a passion of mine,” Vera-Martinez shared.

Similarly, Andrew Reyes, who will be attending Merced College, plans to major in nursing. With Reyes being on the Tribes Boys Varsity track and field team for four years, health has always been a passion for him.

(Andrew Reyes awaiting to line up with his graduating class.)

“Being able to know how the body works, it just seems so cool to me!” said Reyes.

With only 13.5% of Chowchilla’s population holding a higher education degree, the achievements of these first-generation students are even more significant. It is essential for the community to continue providing encouragement and opportunities for the next generation. By investing in education, students can achieve their dreams and contribute to a brighter future for the city of Chowchilla.