Photo: María Fernanda Hubeaut.

Hola,

Congratulations! If you are on this website it is because you are either going to college or are already in college, which means you already took several steps towards your success!

Now that you made it to this level, don’t expect to hear the familiar “lay back, relax and enjoy the show” message you hear at the movies after all the warnings about not smoking and turning off your cell phone. While deciding to go to college—or getting into one—is a very big deal, it is an even bigger deal to succeed at it. And no matter how much fun and fulfilling the experience can be, it also requires a whole lot of work. As a matter of fact, for the next few years, you will accumulate valuable experiences and form long-lasting bonds, but your main focus needs to be to GRADUATE from college and that is exactly what I hope this website and my book will help you accomplish. Read more...

If you are already in college or if you’re well on your way, you may be asking yourself: “Why would I need a college guide and a college website that is specifically for Latino students?” Well, read on and you’ll find out how your upbringing and your background affect your college experience. A few years ago, I started focusing my work and my writing on helping Latinos crack the American code, which means, helping them understand how the system works so that they can succeed in their education, job search, career, etc. As a Latino immigrant myself, I found that there was very little information available in this area. For instance, when I first arrived in this country, I had a hard time looking for a job because the job search process in the U.S. is vastly different from the one in Argentina.

As you might already know, Latino students have the highest high school dropout rate of any group (50 percent) one of the lowest college enrollment rates (20 percent) and one of the highest college dropout rates as well: only 12 out of 100 students who enroll in a 4-year college ultimately graduate, and only 14 percent make it to the 3rd year . Now you might be saying to yourself, “Well, those are just statistics, that’s not me.” And while I commend you for thinking this way, I also want to ask you to think again. College can be a very confusing and difficult time to get through, and none of us are immune to the challenges that can arise from not knowing how to navigate the system. That is why, through this website and through my book I not only want us to radically change these statistics, I want to help you blossom through your college experience and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Now, I don’t just want you to graduate from college with a high GPA. No, I also want you to become a role model for those who come behind you, whether they are your younger siblings, your cousins or people you don’t know. It is only by passing on our knowledge and experience that the Latino community will continue to get stronger and will realize its full potential. And as members of this community, we all have the responsibility to share our experience with others around us.

So, as I wish you the best of luck in this journey, I also hope you accept the challenge to pass on the baton! It will not only be your way of staying connected with your community, it will also be a way of giving back to all those who supported you through this crucial period of your life. Saludos,

Mariela

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Click to read Mariela Dabbah's Bio

Click to visit www.marieladabbah.com

Read Mariela's blog in Spanish for AOL Latino "Tu Voz en Tu Vida".
She writes about education and careers for women!
Click to visit www.tuvozentuvida.com