Title: The Sake of Strangers
Matthew Garcia-Ramirez
12th Grade
The School of Arts and Enterprise
Tri City
“I am a first-generation Latino who will be attending The University of Irvine this fall. It’s cool to say that I will be the first in my family to attend a four-year university, but it comes with a lot of pressure. In this poem, I wrote about my struggles with being a first-generation student and my battle with imposter syndrome. Acknowledging these emotions on paper is good and art is my therapy. I hope my poem makes people feel seen and gives others an insight into what it feels like to be a first-generation student.”
Incredibly inspired by this youth, as a first-generation college student I relate to the pressure and pride one feels being the first in the family to attend university!