1. Maricopa Community Colleges Division of Academic and Student Affairs Mónica Castañeda M.Ed.

2. Preparate Overview Welcome Introductions Did you know?? Sabias que? Preparate I-College Success Preparate II-Overcoming Barriers Preparate II-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow This is your future…..Preparate! Closing Remarks

3. Did you know? Sabias Que? If you earn a college degree you will earn $1 million dollars more in a lifetime than if you just graduate from High School. The Latino population rate has increased from 33 million to 41 million people in the last eight years. Only 10% of Latinos have a college degree Minorities in general have increased in the U.S., however only 1 in 3 Black or Latino students will complete a Bachelors degree.

4. Did you know? Sabias que? What do we know?…..we know minorities go to college they just don’t always finish and earn a Bachelors degree. Only about half of University freshman minorities (except Asian students) graduate with a four year degree. Why do students drop out of high school? Why do students drop out of college?

5. Preparate I- College Success Get a support system Get an educational plan Get your finances in order Get connected to your instructors Give yourself a time frame Utilize campus resources Ask for help Network, network, network….. Get an internship or job in the field your studying Stay focused on college, make it your number 1 priority

6. Preparate II- Overcoming Barriers Be proactive not reactive Find opportunities to challenges Don’t make excuses Se me fue el avion!- The plane left me! Don’t fall for the myth that you can’t afford college Be good with your money…students and parents!

7. Preparate II-Overcoming Barriers Life will get in the way…stay focused on college Work Family Friends Seek help from the 5 members of your support system Seek help from your college faculty and staff Know that no one promised this would be easy Look around..…..you’re not alone in this

8. Preparate III-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Yesterday Your past has past-lo que paso ya paso Life’s struggles-Golpes de la vida What you have seen Who you want to become Today What stands before you You have decisions to make You are about to write your future life Tomorrow Did you arrive at your dreams? Are you paying it forward?

9. In Closing Mi hijita have someone pay you for what you know and secondly for what you do…….. -Mario Castañeda I have gone away to come back for those who cannot out…… -Sandra Cisneros