Citlali Elena- College Journeys: Advocating for Equal Learning Opportunities
Where did you go to college?
Ohio University
What did you study?
I graduated with a BFA in Fine art, a minor in Art History, and a Museum studies certificate.
Tell us about your college experience?
My college experience was really interesting, during my early twenties I was so concerned about the price of my education that my goal became to graduate early to avoid paying for two extra semesters. I ended up taking on about 10 credit hours every summer instead of taking time to rest. On top of taking the maximum credit hours allowed to avoid extra fees each semester, I was working for the University. This made balancing life outside of work and school extremely difficult. I had to give up club sports and I had to miss many meetings at the multicultural center that were always extremely enriching. Towards the end of my college career I was extremely burnt out and I wasn't even able to graduate early because I saw the opportunity for an extra minor and could not pass on it.
How do you feel that your University experience shaped you personally and professionally?
The art program was extremely small so we built really strong bonds with our classmates and professors. Most art classes have a long list of tools and materials that we must purchase after paying tuition. I've always been really good at working with what I have, and making the most out of nothing but art school took that to a whole new level. Art supplies are pretty expensive And if it wasn't for the help of my mom there is no way I would have been able to afford any of this on my dining hall salary.
I think this whole experience really helped me see that having a community of like minded individuals is one of the things I value most in life. It used to be so easy to get people to come together and discuss creative ideas when I was surrounded by amazing artists and friends. Now it’s not as easy to find like minded individuals. Since graduation I have been working hard to create a welcoming space where individuals can feel safe and comfortable sharing their opinions in order to grow my community within the Tattoo industry.
Do you feel that college opened doors for you that you might not have otherwise had access to?
Definitely, I had the opportunity to work hand in hand with a couple of really talented visiting artists. I took classes in which the main goal for the semester was to figure out how we were to mount an art exhibition, others focused on writing grants which are extremely important for us artists. We even had a class to help us build our portfolios and apply to shows. We also had access to a couple of museums.
What challenges have you faced in the pursuit of higher education if any?
The challenges I faced were mainly financial, just because the University was only paying minimum wage which at the time was only $8.25 which is pennies in the grand scheme of things. I sometimes took on more hours than I should have and it ended up affecting my performance in class. When I was confronted by my professor they suggested I quit my job which felt like such an outlandish suggestion to me.
Do you feel that there is a need for better access to quality education in your community?
Definitely. The price of education keeps rising and more minority groups are getting pushed out just because higher education has become something that is only affordable for a select few individuals. It is scary to see how the country is shifting to dissolve programs that provide people of color with equal access to quality education.
A lot of the hispanic population faces disparities that their peers don't know or think about. Some Universities are not equipped to offer the tools necessary for our community to receive equal education. Which is extremely disheartening because in order for individuals in our community to achieve financial independence we need a degree, but there aren't enough programs pushing student retention.