Hello Everyone.
Where do I even start? My name is Rosa and I am a first generation Mexican American. The reason why I wanted to start blogging is for several reasons. For one my writing skills aren’t the strongest. Some of you will tell right away, as others may not even notice a difference, but I hope to improve my writing skills by blogging. A second reason as to why I wanted to start blogging was because lately I’ve been feeling alone. Not alone as I need a companion but alone as in am I the only one who was raised this way and adapted the mindset that I have now? I have friends and they are great but I notice that we have different views on things as well as certain feelings towards one another due to our upbringings.
For example I earned my Bachelors degree last May. I am the first in my family to earn bachelors and by first that includes the grandchildren from both sides of my family as well as siblings. Did I also forget to mention that I am the youngest in my family and the youngest grandchild from my father side of the family? I have other friends who are also the first in their families to earn a baccalaureate degree however; to me it wasn’t a big accomplishment as it was for them. I feel this way because I am not the first in my family to have attended college as my friends were / are the first to have attended college.
My diploma isn’t framed it is sitting in a box somewhere in the attic. I feel that I am worth more than just a bachelors degree or maybe its because I decided to settle for a non traditional degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Child Advocacy Studies.
I may be confusing you, but for some reason it makes sense to me. I mean I am happy and proud of my accomplishments by far, but am I weird for not framing my diploma? I know I’m not the only one, am I?
I feel once I receive my masters that’s a peace of paper that is worth framing, but I am also no where near getting a master as I have no intention of going back to school any time soon.
I am 26 years old and from the time I was 18 I worked and went to school. I never really had an opportunity to do what I am doing now which is working full time and having time to learn different things. By things I mean I just purchased my first crochet kit. I want to learn to crochet and make different hats and scarfs to give to my friends and family. I want to learn a different language as well. Which language? I don’t know yet. These are things I couldn’t do while I was at school because I had homework, work, and classes. The spare time I did have involved binge watching Netflix, Makeup Tutorials on YouTube, Facials and going out with friends, which contributed to myself-care.
“So Rosa why did it take you 8 years to get a simple undergrad degree?” well besides the fact that my test scores were really low and I had to take remedial classes that I totally did amazing in. I was also majoring in Elementary Education, which had a never ending list of required Gen Eds that kept changing every other year.
Then money became a factor.
I also wasn’t sure if I really wanted to become a teacher. I mean I knew I wanted to work with kids, but after taking a few education courses and realizing that teachers are only there for part of the day made me really think about what happens the other half of a child’s day? I then stumbled upon a minor titled CAST (Child Advocacy Studies) and realized it was everything I wanted to be and do.
There wasn’t a major so I decided to make it my area of concentration and took everything related to CAST which included justice classes, sociology classes, and social work classes. As I mentioned before I am happy that I earned a university level degree and I am happy with the job that I have at the moment and due to my degree I am able to obtain that job and enjoy what I do.
I work with a special population and working with a special population requires you to have a special schedule. This means that I work weekends. I don’t mind working weekends, but I work second shift. I do love my job and everything that comes with it and I can totally see myself working there long term although working second shift and working weekends does take a toll on you and on your social life. I know my current schedule isn’t permanent which is what makes me happy to have the job I have.
Another reason why I started blogging is because I want to know if other individuals feel the same way I do. I know culture has nothing to do with it, but if there are any other first generation Mexican- Americans with no talent, a basic college degree, and are in your mid to late 20s with no idea who decided that you are able to function well as an adult please feel free to let me know that I AM ALONE!!
My predictions for this blog can go one of two ways, it may seem like I’m asking for approval form others even though I am not. I can totally see some come over here with their negativity and try to bring me down, but I’m tired of feeling like I am the only one who feels and thinks this way. Can anyone relate? Which is also my second prediction that some of you who are in your mid to late twenties with no talent and a basic college degree feel the same way.
Rosa 