Innezz “Nezzie” Garcia’s employer - a busy, understaffed surgery center in the Twin Cities - recently offered her a promotion. But, it came with a catch. To accept it, she would need to go back to school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA.
“I’m trying to take these challenges in stride. I know that I won’t be in college forever, and I want to enjoy the good things about being a student, like being in senate and connecting with other students.”
"There are so many things that could have gone differently with my story, so many opportunities for a different path if there had been a clear, on-campus pathway to mental healthcare for any student."
More Stories
Henri Mingo
“I’m trying to take these challenges in stride. I know that I won’t be in college forever, and I want to enjoy the good things about being a student, like being in senate and connecting with other students.”
"There are so many things that could have gone differently with my story, so many opportunities for a different path if there had been a clear, on-campus pathway to mental healthcare for any student."
Karina Villeda is a mother, student, and future lawyer. Karina grew up surrounded by diversity, and saw her community interacting with the law in many ways.
"While I was enrolled, my outstanding tuition balance prevented me from using campus resources such as the food court or the bus system. I struggled to pay my rent, pay for groceries, or pay for medical expenses with a job that only paid minimum wage. I remember staring blankly in my kitchen, calculating how I would survive on only frozen food."
"Whatever you're passionate about, whatever you care about, whatever you like - let that shine. Because when you let that shine, others around you see that. And that will attract the right people."
“I feel like as international students we can't seem to win. It's either why are you using our resources and leaving or, if I stay here, why are you using our resources and taking jobs that are meant for the American people? And so we struggle with this rhetoric of like, OK, do I belong? Or do I not belong?”
"If I wasn't fortunate enough I would have become just another statistic of a Mexican college student who failed because of the barriers put in front of me and I have been very close to failing college and close to not achieving my American Dream."
“I am literally still in school because of LeadMN. They have supported me in terms of emergency grants and scholarships. I was told I was not eligible for a lot of emergency assistance on campus and through agencies. I was denied so many times. Because of my scholarship through LeadMN, I am able to afford tuition and remain in school.”
Kimmy Kistan always dreamt of coming to the United States to pursue a college education. As she neared the end of her secondary schooling, she determined nothing would stop her from achieving that dream.