Being A Minority Student Essay

Being a minority student on a college campus can be difficult. Both articles highlighted the challenges that minority college students face as they engage the college environment. According to Own, Lacy, Rawls and Holbert (2010), African American students have been found to be less academically prepared for the rigor of college courses and have limited information about the college process in general. Latino and Latina students are in the same boat. Lack of preparation is often due to lack of financial resources.
Along with instructional barriers, many who continue to college also encounter a conflict between the college environment and the cultures in which they were raised (Own, Lacy, Rawls & Holbert, 2010). The struggle between acculturation and enculturation to decide rather follow the dominant culture or to maintain their cultural origin can be the biggest struggle many minority students face on college campuses.

Career counselors must be comfortable enough with clients to establish a working alliance that will enable the counselor to effectively listen to and meet the career development needs of the students. I believe that they must have the skills to address gender and racial discrimination and create a safe space for students to share their concerns and struggles.
Counselors should also recruit appropriate role models to speak about careers in which African Americans have traditionally been underrepresented and what it takes to enter those particular fields. By seeing someone who is like them who are successful can be a great motivation and encouragement for minority students. It is also helpful to encouraging students to participate in internships within their fields of study may develop enhanced techniques to overcome perceived and real barriers in the workplace (Holloway,