![]() ![]() I still did not understand the higher education system and the difference between community college and a 4-year college. This experience made me tough, resilient, and fearless.Īfter earning an Associate’s Degree at American River College, I was able to transfer to Sacramento State University. The great side of this story is that somehow I learned to navigate everything. Many times, filling my belly with water because I had no food. For years, I scrambled to make ends meet. My first apartment was empty for a while. I did not know there were stores that had discounted groceries or places to buy used furniture. I had to couch surf as I did not have a place to live just months after arriving. I did not know cultural norms, which meant I did not know how to act or dress American. ![]() Unless you are an immigrant, you have no concept of what it is like to walk around not knowing anything. The student support service centers helped me navigate an otherwise intimidating situation. I was lucky to learn from dedicated professors. I was among peers who shared a similar experience. ARC served as a buffer to the shock of being a newcomer on so many levels. Had I not taken the time to learn English well, I would not be where I am today. I could have never guessed this would be a decisive moment in my life. Finally, I took placement tests and proceeded to take ESL classes. I would meet with them and leave still confused, simply because I had no context to what they were talking about. I had to ask strangers as to what to do to enroll or how things worked around here. All my schools in El Salvador were so tiny in comparison to American schools. I had never been to a learning institution that big ever. This allowed me to have the headspace to think a bit ahead. It is a terrifying situation for a young woman.Ī few months in, I was able to secure a better job at a large school district. All I knew was the volcanoes, tropical jungle, and the Latin American history, culture, and cuisine of my homeland. I did not know idiomatic expressions or pop culture. For example, when asked to go grab “clam chowder or ravioli,'' I had no idea what that meant. All of this made me feel unwelcome and small. I clearly remember pranks by co-workers, their put downs such as “go back to your country,” and other discriminatory behavior. I remember people’s looks because I did not understand enough English or could not express myself. Once in the U.S., I began working at a grocery store in North Sacramento. My parents worked extremely hard but there were few opportunities around. Those were uncertain times, and when you are so young it really stays with you. My early years in El Salvador encompassed a life of limitations and an ongoing brutal civil war, which meant poverty, insecurity, scarcity, and political unrest. ![]() I had not been exposed to other languages or cultures. Back in those days, the internet was not what it is today. I emigrated from El Salvador and arrived in California fresh out of high school in 2003. "ARC served as a buffer to the shock of being a newcomer on so many levels."Ĭlarissa Laguardia Alumni / 2012 / Liberal Arts / American River College ![]()
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