As Chandler’s presiding judge, I know life is full of obstacles.Sometimes all we need is a little guidance to help us start down the path to success.
I see evidence of this truth every day in my courtroom.I have also lived this truth navigating my academic career as a low-income, first-generation Mexican-American student living in Phoenix.
In elementary school, I had to learn to speak two languages. My mother spoke only Spanish, was not able to communicate with my teachers and didn’t know much about how to help with my education. I also attended a school with a less than rigorous curriculum.
When I began high school, I was completely at a disadvantage academically and had to work hard to catch up with my peers.
I had no idea how to prepare for college
As I got older, my parents and I realized we had no idea how I should prepare for college or complete the college application process. No one in my family had previously attended college, so I was a first-generation college student.
Thankfully, early on my teacher at Rio Vista Elementary referred me and my family to the Hispanic Mother Daughter Program (HMDP) through Access ASU.
When I started attending the monthly meetings in eighth grade, my mother was able to attend as well, since the meetings are offered in Spanish and English. This made all the difference for both of my parents who were heavily involved and relied on HMDP for guidance.
Now in its 40th year, HMDP focuses on multiple aspects of educational success and college preparedness.
My lessons focused on the college requirements for high school classes, how to attain higher grades and the importance of a high grade-point average (GPA). The curriculum also covered financial aid and scholarships, how to apply for admission, and the clubs and activities that students can participate in to further their academic experience.
In high school, one very impactful HDMP session I remember covered how to select a college major and the courses I needed to take to obtain a particular degree.
I would've never attended ASU without this
But perhaps the most valuable lesson I learned was that I was capable and qualified to attend college and obtain my degree.
Without this knowledge, I would not have even applied to ASU and most certainly would not have been able to complete the courses required. I had to believe in myself first, and HMDP helped me do just that.
Yet the Hispanic Mother Daughter Program benefits didn’t stop once I was enrolled at ASU. The lessons continued, and HMDP always provided the support I needed throughout my four years there.
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They offered guidance and were always available to help me find answers to the questions I had. They made a big difference in helping me stay in college and be successful while I was there.
As a student at ASU and a member of HMDP, I was also able to mentor eighth grade students new to the program. That was a deeply rewarding experience — it was a full-circle realization that what I benefited from, I could offer to someone else.
The HMDP was designed to pave the way toward higher education for first-generation college students who aspire to attend Arizona State University. More than 10,000 parent-student teams have been served.
Last year, Access ASU sought to increase enrollment in HMDP by expanding inclusion to all ethnic and gender groups who seek support navigating the college experience. It is great that the newly expanded program will provide assistance to even more students who need it.
Now, I have a daughter with a college degree
What HMDP did for me and my family is invaluable. The connection between me, my family and ASU was so important to my success and made me feel comfortable being the first member of my family to earn a college degree.
Access ASU and the HMDP were major contributors to my success in college and the reason my success continues today.
Many first-generation college students struggle to explain the college admissions process and the importance of attending college to their families.
The Hispanic Mother Daughter Program helped bridge that gap so that together we could celebrate my family’s greatest achievement — a daughter with a college degree!
Alicia Skupin is the presiding judge of Chandler Municipal Court. She also is a member of the Arizona Judicial Council and is the chair of the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Limited Jurisdiction Courts. Skupin is a native of Phoenix and graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in education and a Juris Doctor degree. Share your thoughts at court@chandleraz.gov.
