Dear Puentista,
Welcome to PUENTE! My name is Karen Solano and I am from Santa Rosa. I am the daughter
of migrant parents from Jalisco who came here with the dream of giving their children a better
life. I grew up with my only goals of graduating high school and going to college, specifically a
four-year college. In June of 2022, I graduated high school but also decided that I would be
going to the JC. This came as a slight shock to my parents, but despite their doubts I trusted my
gut. And I’m glad I did. I was enrolled in PUENTE, where I took an english class with Dr. Oz and
a counseling class with Ms. Giron. These three classes were some of the best classes I’ve ever
taken. Not only did they allow me to grow as a student, but they encouraged me to grow as a
person as well. You have made a great choice by choosing to be in PUENTE. I guarantee you
will grow and succeed!
I wanted to share a few things I learned while navigating college as a first-generation student
that I hope will help you as well:
One: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Whether it’s another student or a professor, don’t hesitate to
ask for help. The staff is here to support you. There’s no such thing as a dumb question.
Navigating college is difficult and it’s not something that you should be expected to know the
second you step foot on campus. Reach out if you’re struggling with the material or have a
question on something regarding financial aid. Your success is important and so are you!
Second: It’s completely fine to feel lost in the beginning. Give yourself time. It’s really common
for students to feel lost or out of place the first few weeks. Whether it be not knowing what
subject you want to major in or whether or not school really is for you, it’s normal. The feeling
usually starts to go away as you experience more of college life. If you continue feeling lost after
a few months, consider talking to your counselor or a friend.
Three: Get involved! Take advantage of Familia hours! This is a chance to get to know your
fellow Puentistas and talk about classes that you have in common. Go to as many events as
possible as well. These opportunities are one of a kind and I guarantee you’ll learn something
new each time. Overall, don’t isolate yourself by just studying. Give yourself some time to be
social and have fun.
College is all about growing. Remember, the best way for us to grow is by learning from our
mistakes. Allow yourself to make mistakes and grow from them. No one is perfect, so don’t hold
it against yourself. Try your best in everything you do. Be proud of who you are and what you
came here to do! Echale ganas.
Sincerely,
Karen Solano