What is the value of college? Why is college so important? The most cliche answer would be, the increase of opportunities for success. Or a more superficial definition would be, to get a good job and earn lots of money. Essentially, that is the end goal of college; to become self-sufficient and independent of others. My goal is no different, and for that I value college as a stepping stone towards my goal of a self-sustainable future, away from the reliance of others. However, college serves a far more superior purpose for me than earning money. Going to college allows me to fulfill the role of being a first generation college student. What does it mean to be a first generation college student? It means that neither one of my parents exceeded beyond a high school education. This is important, because their value of college is amplified. Going to college is no longer just about pursuing a career, but it is about bringing honor to the family. It may sound silly, but it is no doubt intimidating. The process of getting into a college is already strenuous, but being the first person ever in the family to do so, introduces more stress. Failure to do so will result in embarrassment, and disappointment from both my family, and myself. I do not imply that the sole reason I am applying to college is to make my parents happy, but rather I want to illustrate the difficulty of my path towards being a first generation …show more content…
For one, my parents and I are first generation immigrants. As immigrants, the largest consumer of time is work. Starting a new life in a new country requires resources, which means money. Their attention on work was the lack of attention on my education, but not lack of concern. My parents were too preoccupied with providing financial support to focus on my school life. Yet, despite their lack of involvement, and appearance of indifference, their expectations for me to excel are always present. Beginning in middle