By Judge Alicia Skupin | Point of View
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 only spoke 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.
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.
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/scholarships, how to apply for admission, and clubs/activities 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. 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 HMDP 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. 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 benefitted from, I could offer to someone else.
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, HMDP helped bridge that gap so that together we could celebrate my family’s greatest achievement – a daughter with a college degree!
Editor’s Note: As the presiding judge in Chandler, Judge Skupin also serves in key roles for the Arizona Supreme Court. She is a member of the Arizona Judicial Council and the Chair of the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Limited Jurisdiction Courts.
