‘I Am My Mother’s Daughter’: The Interwoven Role of Family and Community in the Persistence and Success of First-Generation Latina College Students

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges and support systems impacting the success and perseverance of first-generation Latina college students. It emphasizes the critical role of family involvement and the cultural wealth within their communities, which have been overlooked in prior research. Utilizing interviews with first-generation Latina students, this study aims to understand how their perceptions of family and community support impact their educational journeys. The objective is to underscore these support systems' importance in enhancing a key demographic's success in higher education. The research questions seek to explore: (1) How does familial capital, regarding values and customs within families, influence the aspirational persistence of first-generation Latina college students in their education? (2A) Which school-provided family engagement approaches have first-generation Latina college students found to be the most helpful in ensuring their success and persistence when transitioning from high school to college? (2B) What intrinsic family values and informal engagement strategies in the home environment contribute to the educational success and persistence of first-generation Latina college students in college? (3) How have social and navigational capitals, manifested through community support systems, shaped first-generation Latina college students' preparation for and transition to college? (4) How have first-generation Latina college students utilized their cultural wealth, explicitly drawing on aspirational, linguistic, familial, social, navigational, and resistant capitals, to overcome institutional barriers in higher education? This study explores how community resources and family involvement affect first-generation Latina college students' persistence and success, offering educational institutions guidance on enhancing support for this growing demographic.