When I was growing up in a poor Latino neighborhood, books were considered luxos (luxuries).  While education was important and we were encouraged to go to school and study hard, for some reason there was a great disconnect between the school and home.  Books, unless they were the bible or school books seemed a waste of time.

For me, the girl with her nose always buried in a book – I got the reputation for being “la floja” (the lazy one).  Reading for pleasure seemed to my mother to be the height of laziness and had something whatsoever to do with education.  I’d be better off learning how to clean the stove better or learn sewing from my Auntie Jessie.  I learned to hide my books and take stolen moments to read and educate myself about everything from language to science to hyperbolic geometry while washing the dishes or cooking.  My book of the moment was conveniently tucked away in the spoon drawer or carefully covered with a school book cover so my mother wouldn’t find out I was reading what she deemed as a waste of time.

My grandparents on the other hand, and my Aunt Lupita encouraged my reading and were heavily focused on education.  At the abuelitos house, books and reading time were encouraged.  My grandmother loved it when I read her her books on the lives of Catholic Saints and my grandfather who learned to read and write AFTER his marriage to my grandmother would always pat my head and encourage me to read more, saying that education was gold and that I must go to college.

I don’t think anyone on our block knew how to fill out a college application, understood SAT’s or had a solid saving’s plan for their children’s college future.  Kids I grew up with either went straight from high school to a factory job or stumbled their way through till they eventually found their way to community college and eventually a Bachelor’s degree.  Some found their way to college through the military.

While education for their children is a huge priority for Latino’s, unless they are educated about the process it can be overwhelming, especially for first generation immigrants that are monolingual Spanish speakers.  They work hard and save money but don’t always have a clear picture of just how much is needed, what scholarships are available, what their role is in encouraging reading for pleasure and not just making it all about work.  We are a very industrious people and too often it is all about work, work, work which at times can turn our kids off on the idea of education.  We need to learn how to make learning and studying fun.  Programs like Es El Momento and organizations like LATISM not only educate, mentor and set examples that give our youth hope but also provide accessibility to programs and grants that will facilitate the higher education process.

My grandchildren Jasmine and Aiden are now seven and five years old and we are thinking about college for them.  Jasmine is the artist and Aiden is the deep thinker.  They both are huge readers and love school and we hope to keep that fire burning.  They don’t need to hide their books in a drawer ?, and the focus for both of them is education, education, education.  I plan on educating myself and their mother on all the college prep processes and we’re thrilled to have these programs in place so that we can be ready when the time comes.  Time flies!  I highly encourage parents and grandparents to check out the Univision Es El Momento initiative and use this incredible resource.

About Es El Momento

In February 2010, Univision Communications Inc. launched a comprehensive, multi?year national education initiative called Es El Momento (The Moment is Now) in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, educators and civic and community leaders from around the country. The Es El Momento initiative is aimed at improving academic achievement among K12 Hispanic students with a specific focus on high school graduation and college readiness.

Note: This is a sponsored post: my thoughts, opinions and memories are my own.

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