Introduction

Jane shared:

"My mom, she was born in Mexico, and she immigrated to the U.S. when she was about 3 or 4 years old. [...] My dad, on the other hand, he was born here. He's Japanese, and his mom was born here. His grandma was born here, but his great-grandma was not born here. So I would say maybe like fourth or fifth generation Japanese American" (Interview 1).

My research explores the challenges that first-generation transfer students from culturally diverse backgrounds face, specifically examining how they navigate academic transitions, financial barriers, and cultural expectations within higher education. Through interviews with Jane Doe, a Mexican-Japanese American first-generation student in her fourth year at UCLA majoring in Sociology with a minor in Labor Studies, I gained firsthand insights into these issues. Her experiences highlight systemic problems in higher education, such as educational and socioeconomic inequalities, as well as insufficient institutional support for first-generation students. Ultimately, by examining these issues, my goal is to advocate for changes that create fairer opportunities and better resources for first-generation and culturally diverse students.

University of California, Los Angeles