As we reflect on the families who have taken part in our PIQE workshops, a few questions come to mind: Where are these children now? Did they pursue higher education and achieve their dreams?

These aren’t just questions about statistics; they’re about dreams, hope, and the future of the children we’re all working so hard to help. With every workshop we provide families with the tools they need to break down barriers and build better futures for their children.

To gain a deeper understanding of the impact, we reached out to Isabel Hernandez, a PIQE graduate, who shared the story of her son, Alan.

“We’re delighted because Alan will be attending CSU Stanislaus,” Isabel told us about a year ago, when we first reached out. The mother who once worried that her children might not be able to attend college due to the language barrier couldn’t believe it when Alan started getting acceptance letters from universities like UC Davis, UC Merced, CSU Stanislaus, CSU Monterey Bay, CSU San Jose, and CSU Fresno.

“We’re happy but we have many questions,” Isabel admitted. “It’s all new to us, and we don’t fully understand all the requirements and processes for each school. Plus, we wondered if it might be better to go to a community college, just from a financial standpoint.”

The College Application Process: A Struggle for Alan

While Alan was excited about this new chapter in his life, he was also a bit worried. “The whole process can be overwhelming for students, Isabel added. “There’s so much information to take in, the pressure of choosing the right university, uncertainties about financial aid and, for some, leaving home and living on their own. It’s stressful.”

Alan, who is now 18 and in his second semester at CSU Stanislaus, remembers the college application process as pretty intimidating, especially since he didn’t have anyone to guide him through it. “The hardest part during the last two years of high school was filling out the college applications. It made me nervous to think that if I missed even a small detail or made a mistake with my information, I’d have to do everything all over again, or worse, not get financial aid or not get accepted,” he said.

“Thankfully, my mom had taken the PIQE workshops and knew exactly what I needed to do,” said Alan. “She understood what I was going through and was able to help me. She knew all about FAFSA and even understood the difference between CSU and UC schools. That made everything a lot easier.”

Carving His Own Path: Alan’s Journey of Change and Choice

Alan applied to many universities and got accepted to all of them. “I think universities look at what you want to do with your life, and that’s what helps them decide whether or not to support you,” said Alan, who started this journey with the idea of becoming an optometrist.

In his applications, he mentioned that not only did he want to go to college to help his family, but he also wanted to give back to his community. “When I visit Mexico, I see a lot of people, especially seniors, who can’t see and can’t afford glasses or medicine. I want to do something about that.”

After much consideration, Alan decided to attend CSU Stanislaus, in part because of the financial aid they offered him, but also because he felt a sense of belonging when he visited the campus. “I loved the trees and all the green space; the people were friendly. It just felt peaceful,” he stated.

Alan appreciates the ongoing support from his mom. “I truly value that my mom continues to share with me what she learned in the PIQE workshops. It makes a huge difference to have parents backing you up.”

Since his first year, things have shifted for Alan. Instead of pursuing optometry, he has decided to major in Kinesiology, which focuses on body movement and health, with plans to become a chiropractor. He also aims to pursue certifications in acupuncture and other related fields to complement his degree. But that’s not all—Alan is double majoring and also studying Spanish, with the goal of becoming a high school Spanish teacher.

After learning about Alan Martinez and his family, we can confidently say that our workshops teach families to embrace the challenges, navigate the complexities, and find a way to pursue their dreams with resilience and support—proving that the workshops and the power of family involvement really do create lasting change.