The Road Less Traveled
By Francisco Prado
Growing up, college was something that was foreign to me and always seemed out of reach. To understand my mentality, we need to go back to where I grew up to get a sense of what my choices were for my future.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles in a very gang and drug driven community that didn’t exactly have a lot of options for youth and the community members. It was the type of community where you couldn’t walk around at night, stay playing basketball at the park, or even hang out with your friends on the front porch due to on-the-regular assaults, drive-by shootings and robberies. The family I grew up in was a struggle all in its own. My parents came to the U.S. at different points in their lives and also had different upbringings. My father was always working to put food on the table and never had the opportunity to go to school, and my mother was the bookworm of her family — very “opposites attract” type of relationship.
Now before you think you know where this story is going, I’m going to stop you. No, this isn’t a coming-of-age story about a young boy who overcame adversity and avoided the gang culture in his community and went to college. It’s a bit of the mixture: yes, I was a young boy who went to college, but it definitely wasn’t without its struggles and pains.
My college story started with me wanting to survive.
Growing up, I gave into the culture that had surrounded me for so many years. I thought I was a somebody and that no one could mess with me. This went on for many years with me thinking this is it, this is going to be my life until I end up in one of two boxes: either a 10’ x 6’ box in jail or a 6’ hole in the ground. I wasn’t the best student: I was the type of student that would fall asleep in class, walk in late, or sometimes never show up — not really “college material,” am I right? But as I got older, I had the “Aha!” moment (it was really more like “holy sh*t”). One day, I was hanging with my friend and we were involved in a drive-by. I was able to duck and cover, but he wasn’t so lucky. This day changed my life forever. I didn’t want to continue looking over my shoulder or be worried if I would be next. I had to make a choice: get my act together, or continue down this road that so many have gone on. I decided to take the road less traveled.
Working to reverse the many years of not paying attention in class was hard and frustrating, but I needed to do it. My end goal was to graduate high school so I could have a diploma, a job, and could eventually make some money. But my dad wanted more for me. He always wanted me to go to college to become a lawyer or a doctor so that I could have a better future and not struggle like he did. As I was trying to get my high school education in order, I decided to apply to college on a whim, not prepared nor ready for that part of life. And before I knew it, I was accepted to California State University, Northridge (GO, MATADORS!). I remember sitting at the kitchen table with the acceptance letter in my hand. I was so surprised that they accepted a screw-up like myself: my SAT scores were garbage, my high school GPA wasn’t the best.. but I always said to myself, “I’m doing this for my dad.” And so began my college story.
Now this is where the real journey begins.
Being taken out of the only community that I ever knew and being put in a new environment with other individuals who were articulate, well-educated and prepared was a real culture clash. I automatically felt like I didn’t belong and didn’t measure up to the other students. I began believing in the self-fulfilling prophecy: I felt dumb, so therefore I was dumb. I struggled so much my first year as I was attempting to grasp the idea of 2 hour classes, writing papers, late night study sessions and taking exams almost every week. I survived my first year, but not without failing a few classes. I pushed myself to do better by taking winter session and summer school. As the semesters passed by, I realized something: I liked college, the environment, and being seen as someone who could be successful. It was a really weird sensation!
By junior year, I had already thought about dropping out twice and not coming back because of my personal life and issues at home. But I prevailed and pushed myself every day, making sure that I made my time on campus worth it. Getting my life together was the best decision I ever made. I saw how my old friends continued with their old lifestyles and became trapped, because they didn’t know anything else or anything better. In college, my professors were a great resource and support system for me. I was able to create amazing relationships with them that went beyond the classroom. They knew who I was back then and who I was trying to be at that moment. They guided me with support, suggestions, and all around help. I always like to joke that you don’t have a good relationship with your professor until you go and get drinks with them.
During my junior year, I began working for a small non-profit in Los Angeles located on the block that was once known as the deadliest block in the Valley — high crime, gangs, drugs, you name it. It took me back to where I grew up and reminded me how communities shape individuals. Between my junior and senior years in college, I developed programs for the youth in the community to expose them to something positive. I started out with a tutoring service to increase academic achievement and ended with creating a youth group that allowed youth from the community take back what was theirs.
My senior year of college was a defining moment in itself; it was my last year, and I didn’t want it to end. I remember sitting in class during finals and realizing that this was the last time I would be doing this, this would be the last time I had to pull an all-nighter or write a 20 page paper. Turning in my last final was surreal. I remember my professor giving me a hug because she knew that I had completed my journey. My senior year was also when I decided that I wanted to work with at-risk youth. I wanted to help those that were on the same path that I was once on.
Graduation was the best part — it was where I was recognized for all of my hard work and could celebrate with friends and professors. This day was a milestone for not only me, but for my father. He saw more in me when I didn’t, and he always pushed me to do great things. The day that I crossed that stage and my name was called, I knew that both my parents were proud of what their son had become. I always told my dad, “I’m only going to college for you,” but I secretly knew better. Yes, I went to college to make my dad proud, but I ended up making myself proud.
After graduation, I worked for many non-profits that encompassed the same values I was looking for: youth empowerment, advocacy and education. I have worked directly with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the LA County Juvenile Probation Center, Mental Health Centers, and even ran my own Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Prevention Program for the City of Los Angeles. However, I always wanted to keep the services going past the middle and high school stages. Giving back to the youth who needed a guiding hand has since been my calling, but I never would have found it if I hadn’t gone to college. If I could do my life over again, maybe I would have taken the road less traveled a lot sooner.
Francisco Prado is a native Californian from Los Angeles, the son of Mexican immigrants, and the first male in his family to graduate college. He graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor’s in Sociology. His 12 years experience working with at-risk youth and families in the non-profit sector have given him the tools to assist those that are in need of access to higher education and social services. Francisco is dedicated to seeing today’s youth succeed and making sure they are well prepared for the world of tomorrow.
#MyCollegeStory is a ScholarMatch original series highlighting the diverse and varied journeys to and through higher education. Check back each month for new stories!
