A testimonio of trials, tribulations and hope: Community college as pathway to a four-year university

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the early lived experiences that some Mexican American students utilize to further their education in a community college in Oregon, United States. The research questions for the study were ‘What experiences (personal, educational, familial, etc.) influenced your decision to pursue a college education?’ and ‘How has community college served as a tool for empowerment to further your education?’ Through testimonio we explored the lived experiences of Mexican descent students. Each participant was interviewed; all data were recorded, then transcribed for themes. The findings that overlapped across student testimonios were early lived struggles, memories of K-12 and community college empowerment which highlighted the importance for students in community college to revisit their early socialization. The authors advise that in furthering the community college pathway, self-reflexive methodologies be incorporated that cultivate educational resilience and transformational resistance in the transfer of Mexican descent students onto four-year universities.