I attended the Metropolitan State University morning graduation ceremony at the Denver Coliseum to see a nephew receive his diploma. Some years back, at his request, I had the opportunity to award a degree to his older brother.
Both come from an immigrant family and thus their accomplishments are a significant symbol of the drive to what can be considered the American Dream. That Dream is alive and well in the Latino community in general and the Latino immigrant families in particular.
Striving for a college degree is a generational construct that has come about as part of the work ethic that permeates the progress of the community in America. Developing the notion of attaining a college degree is part of the acculturation process that brings into focus higher education as a priority for success.
I remember going to the graduation ceremonies of the parents of these two young men and their cousins. The graduation ceremonies were however, for the completion of high school. In that generation, high school completion was generally the goal. At that time, going to work immediately after high school was like a value that vindicated a place in this country.
For example, I had a young brother-in-law who is an immigrant living and sharing a bedroom with my son. I went out my way to offer both, the support for a college educational career.
With my son, it was assumed that he would select and attend an institution of higher education. Although he had the opportunity to do so, that was not the case with my brother-in-law. His vision as well as his level of aspiration did not include the next educational step. Like most Latino immigrants, his priority was to find a job and go to work.
He is the father of the young nephew I went to see graduate and of his older brother to whom I awarded the diploma. It is clear that values in the area had changed in just one generation.
This can also be said about the generational change in the Latino student population in general. Latinos “make up most of the nation’s growth in college degrees” in this century as their achievement represents 80 percent of the increase in college graduation diplomas.
Between 2000 and 2020 Latino college graduates increased from 620,000 to 2.4 million, a 287 percent increase in degrees. This compares to a 50 percent increase on the part of the other groups during the same period.
What does this say about the Latino community’s presence in America. It is very noticeable that the Latinos have been largely quiet during the general chaos that has characterized the 21st Century to date.
As we peel back the historical cover of the last two and a half decades, it is apparent that the community has chosen to prioritize its efforts in such things as the workforce, building businesses and going to school among others rather than join in the politics of the moment, especially the noise of extremism on the left and the right.
There is a sense that the country will need prepared leaders with common sense when the waves of discontent finally come to an end. The Latino based preparation is working its way across the various sectors of national life and promises to offer a light for recovery and progress.
Going to college and graduating has never been more important to the future of the country. This achievement cuts through all of the false positives of our national illness.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
