When Chelsea Cordoba toured the campus halls of Pacific Lutheran University for the time, she didn’t yet grasp the monumental step forward she would later take for her and her immigrant family.
The 18-year-old will return to the campus this fall with wide eyes once again, yet this time, with a full-ride scholarship.
Cordoba graduated from Summit Olympus public charter school in Tacoma and was awarded the Act-Six scholarship, a faith and social justice based program that supports aspiring leaders to engage with local communities. She will be majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Spanish.
As the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, Cordoba said her “biggest supporters” have always been her parents.
“They always told me to aim for a better life,” Cordoba said. “Even graduating high school was such a big deal for my father and all they want me to do is to not struggle financially and support my dreams.”
Cordoba’s father nor mother was able to complete their college degrees yet the two made it their mission to provide their children with all the opportunities they never had.
But being “the first” came with a lot of pressure, Cordoba said.
Her application process for the Act-Six scholarship took place in four lengthy phases, ranging from multiple essays about her role in her community, her identity, as well as crafted video responses.
Cordoba said she “went into the whole process very nervous” but tried her best to “be authentic” by leaning on her lived experiences as a young woman of color and the passion she has for helping her family.
“It was challenging navigating this by myself because my family turned to me to pave my path for college,” Cordoba said.
Filling out the FAFSA forms was also a difficult experience.
“It was stressful, but it was exciting to wait and check the mail and imagine sharing the news with my parents, and I’m glad I got to experience that,” she said.
Latinos are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college than any other racial group, according to a 2024 report by Excelencia in Education.
The day that Cordoba received the good news is one she said she will never forget.
“I remember my father taking many photos and telling our friends and relatives,” Cordoba said. “I could even feel that my parents were living that excitement through me.”
As enthusiastic as Cordoba is about the next chapter in her life, she said her journey there came with a lot of ups and downs.
She spent her freshman year of high school behind a screen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it difficult for her to connect with her teachers and classmates.
“It was hard for me to come out of my shell. I’m usually a very extroverted person and I like being social but when the pandemic hit, we really couldn’t do much,” Cordoba said. “For the first few months, I never turned on my camera on Zoom and only spoke through the chat.”
The transition to in-person school during her sophomore year was also tough for Cordoba because she was adapting to a new environment while dealing with family issues.
“I felt like I had hit rock bottom and was in a dark space, but in a way, that shaped me to become the person I am right now,” she said.
Despite the hardships, Cordoba said her high school teachers were helpful in creating a safe space for her to share feelings and receive the emotional support she needed at the time.
“My mentor and teacher were very reassuring and encouraging,” she said. “[They] got me into counseling, and from there on, it was uphill.”
In addition to building relationships with her teachers, Cordoba was able to build a community at Summit Olympus. Cordoba said she felt “liberated and comfortable” there to blossom as a young adult.
Her mentors often facilitated student-led groups to empower students, acknowledge academic pressure, as well encourage them to build stronger relationships with each other. They also often met for meals and cultural celebrations.
It was through those community gatherings that Cordoba built the confidence and the strength to apply to over 20 different universities.
After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University, Cordoba has already begun crafting plans to attend law school and become a criminal defense attorney that “bring[s] justice to everyone who truly deserves it.”
“That’s the path I’m leaning towards right now, I want to be the best at whatever I do,” Cordoba said.
She said her career path was inevitably influenced by her parents though her path as a first-generation student will be her own to create.
“It also shows, in a way, how my parents had a part in this whole process,” she said. “It’s proof that immigrants are here to do no harm, and we’re here to create a change in our world.”
Soumya Gupta is a recent journalism graduate from the University of Washington and a freelance reporter. She is passionate about reporting on culture, community and racial justice. She is always on the move to find something new.