Texas Keo
Class Level
Graduated
Degree and Major
Graduate program for school counseling, Liberal Studies (Child Development concentration)
Hometown
Ripon, CA (grew up in Modesto)
Biography
I am a first-generation college student who has been faced with many obstacles to become a graduate student and progress in the multiple subject credential program. I was disowned by my family for attending college because of the different cultural and traditional values. My family is a Cambodian male dominance culture that believes females should only complete high school and then take care of the family. When I made the decision to attend college, I had no help or support from my family. I was working at two to three jobs, attending school full-time, and looking out for my mom and younger siblings. My father got in trouble with the law and was incarcerated during the time that I first attended college. I have seven sisters, two older and five younger sisters. My two older sisters followed the traditional role and had their own sets of families to take care for. There was my mom and five younger siblings trying to make a living, and my mom was disappointed in me for leaving the family.
My mom became very depressed and did not do much to support my younger siblings. I stepped in, taking the whole responsibility as a mother. I made sure my younger siblings had food, tutoring, and helped my family pay bills. I was able to keep my GPA above 3.5 and maintained support for my family.
A couple of years passed by and I found out my mom had breast cancer. I struggled to help her understand the seriousness of cancer and by the time she agreed to do something about her health it was too late. She passed away May of 2005 and I adopted my siblings. Currently, I am going to school full-time, working part-time, and caring for my siblings. I hope to improve our standard of living and support my sisters to reach their full potential in education. I want them to gain skills and knowledge to become successful, and contribute back to the community for the help and support that we have been receiving.
Why did you choose CSU Stanislaus?
I chose CSU Stanislaus because it is a college that has great support for students through programs such as the Educational Opportunity Program, Student Support Services, and Faculty Mentor Progam. Additionally, most of the professors really care about their students' success and they put extra effort into helping their students become successful. It is a very friendly environment. I feel comfortable here at CSU Stanislaus and I am planning to pursue a master's degree in school counseling here. The administrators are also very supportive toward individual students. They attend special events to congratulate students on their hard work and they care about students' opinions to keep the friendly and supportive environment on campus.
What advice would you give a prospective student?
I would advise prospective students to find out about supportive programs on campus and to get to know their professors at a personal level. There are many programs that are available here that assist incoming students to adjust to the campus. The professors are also friendly to talk to and supportive in any concerns or problems students may have. All of the professors have their office hours available to students, but some also have an open-door policy to accommodate students' needs.
Also, seek out scholarships because there are many that students can get to support them financially. This means know about scholarship availability and deadlines.
E-mail Address: texaskeo@yahoo.com
