This week the U.S. Department of Education released a new video produced especially for Spanish-speaking families that shows how going to college is more attainable and more affordable than ever before.
The video profiles Samantha Hernandez, a sophomore at California State University Dominguez Hills, and shows the support she receives as she pursues an education to attain her career and life goals. Samantha’s story is told in her own words, as well as those of her fellow students, faculty advisor, college president, and family membersall in Spanish.
The video shows her on campus and at home in South Central Los Angeles, where she lives with her mother and sisters. The piece also documents the various kinds of support — financial and otherwise — that Hernandez receives to help her succeed and complete her degree. The video also demonstrates the critical role that the family can play in motivating young people to attend and succeed in the world of higher education.
The video is entitled, “La universidad: un sueño alcanzable” (“College: An Attainable Dream”), and runs about 5 minutes and is closed-captioned in Spanish and in English. Just click the “cc” button and select the language option you prefer.
You can watch the video online at: http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/09/college-is-un-sueo-alcanzablean-attainable-dream/.