As the holiday season approaches and San Diegans shift into the festive spirit, thousands of high school seniors are nervously submitting their college applications, eagerly anticipating the next chapter of their lives.
As the president and CEO of Reality Changers, an organization that helps youth become the first in their families to graduate from college, I oversee an incredible team of staff and volunteers that support students through this crucial step on their pathway to college success.
But in the past few weeks, there have been worrisome articles in The New York Times and The Washington Post suggesting the American public’s underlying hesitation in affirming the value of a college degree.
The articles focus on a national report that shows an 8.5% decline in freshman college enrollments at four-year public institutions. The decline may have to do with recent challenges related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), concerns with student loan debt, or assumptions about which jobs and salaries are available to early-career adults.
Because of these issues and others, there is a growing public narrative that college isn’t worth the investment. This narrative causes funding to be diverted away from scholarships, college access programs, and on-campus resources, disproportionately affecting youth from under-resourced communities and limiting their opportunities to graduate from college.
At Reality Changers, we actually saw an increase in freshman enrollment this year. With over 20 years of experience guiding first-generation and under-resourced youth to and through higher education institutions, we know the personal empowerment and generational impacts that access to higher education can have. We understand how to navigate challenges, and we remain steadfast in our desire to reshape and contextualize discussions about the value of college.
With the 2024 FAFSA form issues, Reality Changers responded quickly to ensure our students received correct information and felt supported in turning in their applications on time. We cannot understate the importance of financial support in helping first-generation students to achieve success. That’s why Reality Changers utilizes workshops and scholarship opportunities to help students get what they need to pursue their dreams confidently.
Although financial pessimism dominates the anti-college narrative, a report based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey shows that the 2021 weekly “median usual earnings” of those with a bachelor’s degree was 65% higher than it was for those with a high school diploma.
San Diego youth face barriers in pursuing higher education. These challenges shouldn’t prevent anyone from achieving their long-term goals. Every day, we see the outcomes that a belief in academic achievement, access to higher education, and availability of supportive resources provides.
In the 2023-24 academic year, Reality Changers served 186 twelfth grade students. With one-on-one coaching, feedback on essays, and scholarship guidance, Reality Changers saw a 98% acceptance rate of those students to two-year and four-year institutions — with the remaining 2% of students opting to join the military and access GI Bill funding for college.
While we reflect on this season of anticipation and possibility, let’s remember the transformative power of education and our responsibility to give everyone equal access to opportunity. By pursuing a college degree, students can make their dreams a reality.
By investing in students at home and in your community, you make them feel seen, heard, and valued in that process. Together, let’s encourage San Diego youth to properly equip themselves to step into their future as agents of change.
Tamara Craver is president and CEO of Reality Changers, a San Diego-based nonprofit that prepares youth to become first-generation college graduates and agents of change in their communities.
