Despite her impressive achievements as a student and active citizen, Estrella Garza is not afraid to admit that the journey to UW-Madison was a challenging endeavor.
As a first-generation college student, Garza was required to surpass several hurdles before vaulting herself into a foreign environment. Prior to attending UW-Madison, Garza was a student at Robert Vela High School in Edinburg, Texas, where many of her peers were also from families without college-educated parents.
Reflecting on her junior year, she recalls visits from representatives of major Texas colleges, who came to introduce students to campus life and encourage them to consider higher education. These visits provided valuable insight into college options, especially for students who might not have had the time or resources to explore on their own.
Garza shares that her high school provided strong support for students, recognizing that many were unfamiliar with the concept of college and uncertain how to navigate the process of applying.
“I had a difficult time when it came to writing the essay for my college applications. I wasn’t sure what I should write about or if I was touching on key points that colleges would be interested in,” Garza says. “It wasn’t until I reached out to my third-year English teacher, Celina Gomez, that I felt confident in my submission.”
Garza describes how Gomez proofread her essay multiple times, offering valuable feedback on the content. She appreciated receiving help from someone who understood the expectations colleges often have for essays.
In addition to guidance from her high school teachers and advisors, Estrella also received advice from her two older siblings, who attended Marquette University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. She specifically remembers her older brother’s support as he guided her through the FAFSA application.
“I was fortunate to have siblings who had already gone through the college application process. They were a huge help and an additional resource I didn’t take for granted,” Garza says.
When choosing where to apply, Garza was drawn to UW-Madison for its diverse communities that offered multiple ways to get involved. For her, finding a network of people she felt comfortable around and could share experiences with was a crucial part of the college search.
“Overall, trying to find a college was really challenging for me as an out-of-state student. Madison seemed to have a lot of opportunities to connect with people on campus and I appreciated the university’s ongoing effort to create a diverse and inclusive environment,” Garza says.
Garza was admitted to the university with the support of the BANNER program, which provides financial assistance to out-of-state students from low-income families through a mix of grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities. Once a student, Garza made the most of her time on campus by actively seeking out ways to get involved.
As an elementary education and educational policy studies major, Garza was drawn toward Bucky’s Classroom, a statewide outreach program dedicated to promoting the value of higher education. Through her two years in the program, Garza visited classrooms across Wisconsin, leading sessions where she shared her college experiences and provided students and teachers with valuable information on post-secondary education.
Garza recalls that hearing from college representatives in high school was helpful, but she would have loved to hear from individuals closer to her age, specifically students with similar life experiences.
“When students connect with other students, it breaks down a barrier that can make college seem unattainable,” Garza says.
Beyond her work with Bucky’s Classroom, Garza is also an after-school programs intern at the Morgridge Center for Public Service, where she provides administrative support for literacy and educational organizations across the city of Madison. A few of these community partners include Madison School and Community Recreation (MSCR), Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS).
Despite her admirable involvement, Garza feels pressure to excel in every aspect of her college journey. As a first-generation college student, she is driven by a desire to make her parents proud, knowing they didn’t have the same opportunities she has.
“I frequently place pressure on myself to succeed—in academics, my work at the Morgridge Center, and in creating connections outside of school. I want to make my parents proud,” Garza says. “If I have this opportunity, I feel like I should take full advantage of it, especially because my parents didn’t have the same privilege.”
Garza acknowledges that her experience may differ from those who don’t have siblings or didn’t attend a high school that went the extra mile to provide support during the college application process. However, once in college, she experienced a cultural disconnect with peers whose parents had attended college and who always knew they would follow the same path.
“Freshman year was probably the most difficult. I felt like I was behind before school even started,” Garza says. “However, if I were to offer advice to other first-generation college students, I would urge them not to get bogged down by these emotions. Find ways to get involved in the community and surround yourself with people who uplift you.”
Garza is one of many first-generation students who have defied the status quo, demonstrating that UW-Madison is stronger because of their presence and perseverance. If students are willing to leap, they have the opportunity to soar.