Bridging the gap: Spokane’s innovative college prep series
In a world where access to higher education has become increasingly critical, College Success Foundation plays a pivotal role in supporting underrepresented students on their educational journeys. Advisors are known to deploy innovative initiatives to encourage the long-term success of the students we serve––like summer programming that keeps students engaged during the “off-season” and strategies that normalize mental health discussions when so many young people are struggling. In Spokane, one inspiring CSF advisor and first-generation college graduate herself, Abranna Romero-Rocha, designed an educational event series aimed at doing just that.
Abranna was inspired by the structure of college courses, which often build upon foundational knowledge and increase with complexity as the students advance. Drawing from this model, she designed a series of events comprising College Prep 101, 102, and 103, and Personal Statements 101, 102, and 103. Each course builds upon the previous one, providing a holistic and structured approach to college readiness. Each course also requires students complete the preceding installment specifically to avoid confusion and lack of continuity. “It is important for them to attend every class,” Abranna explains, “because in college if you miss one class the repercussions are far greater than in high school. I think the gap is that our students go to college unprepared, part of that comes from COVID. They lack skills to achieve in college such as self-advocacy, time management, asking for help, etc.”
A series on a mission
The primary aim of this event series is to instill a sense of accountability in students, helping students realize that going to college requires significant effort. Abranna has noticed that students often underestimate the true cost of attending college. “In my two years working at CSF,” Abranna notes “I have noticed that students believe scholarship awards and financial aid includes their housing. Usually, that realization comes a little too late – often after scholarship season.” Through these courses, students learn about tuition, housing and how to differentiate between cost of attendance and cost of living. They also gain financial literacy skills to better understand the loans they might utilize, ensuring they don’t graduate with overwhelming debt. “Before I learned about the cost of attendance, I thought college was going to be paying for everything but your food,” one student shares. “But after Ms. Abranna taught me about the cost of attendance, I’ve learned about how and what the college funds go towards and how to use them responsibly.”
Additionally, the series focuses on personal statements, where students learn to write Leadership 1000 Scholarship application essays in a series of activities that increase with difficulty as students progress in their coursework. The goal is to encourage students to tell their stories and embrace the power of storytelling as a means of self-expression and connection. “While not all of the [application] questions are ‘easy,’ some require more honesty than others,” Abranna says. “I want to establish trust with the students that are coming. There will be strangers reading their essays and that can be uncomfortable, but it is the reality. By sharing with their classmates, slowly, it can become easier to story tell.”
The program structure
All students, regardless of their background, are welcome to attend these courses. Currently, the program is serving students at Rogers High School, where Abranna serves as a college prep advisor. She takes care to ensure a supportive and safe environment for students during the personal statement workshops. “I tell my students all the time, storytelling is a powerful tool,” Abranna proclaims. “Stories tell us about our ancestors, our roots, it is a tradition that was taken away from us through Westernization, but we are reclaiming it. Storytelling is a revolutionary act.”
To encourage further accountability, Abranna incentivizes students with front and center placement on her bulletin board, where she tracks milestones and celebrates students’ wins. To make it onto the board, students are required to attend at least two workshops and a field trip.
When asked about their experiences in the series thus far, students have expressed much satisfaction and gratitude. “The workshops hosted by Ms. Abranna have given me the opportunity to understand what I’m looking for in college and what my goals are after college,” one student reflects. “By providing us with a base to be successful, she provides an open space to share and strengthen our writing and finds scholarship opportunities that I wouldn’t have known of without the workshop. Not only does she share opportunities to be successful in our individual pathways, but she also shows immense care and passion for her students, creating an atmosphere where students feel prepared and excited for the steps ahead of them.
Personal journey and inspiration
As a first-generation college student, Abranna has a deep understanding of the challenges students face. “My parents are from very small villages out in the middle of nowhere. They came to America to give their children more opportunities,” Abranna reflects. “My parents and siblings are why I work so hard. I am the oldest first-generation Mexican American woman [in my family] and I know the responsibilities that come with that title.”
Abranna attributes her drive to work with CSF Scholars to two influential figures in her educational journey: Robert Jones and Melody Rodriguez, two long-tenured CSF advisors in Tacoma. Their support and guidance during middle school and high school were instrumental in her success. “Melody was one of the first Mexican women I met who went to college,” Abranna recalls. “Melody is Filipina Mexican American, and she [wears] her identity with honor. I believe she is the reason I never shied away from my identity. Because of Melody my sense of self was more established for when the essays came around.”
Robert also gave Abranna the courage and resources to take utmost advantage of the financial aid tools at her disposal, despite living with so much fear about endangering her parents due to their immigration status. “I would not be in college if it was not for [Mr. Jones],” Abranna says. “When I was in high school both my parents were undocumented. [Because] the FAFSA is part of the federal government…my parents lived in fear and handing over information to the government. I went to Mr. Jones and told him about my situation. He spent hours on the phone with me calling FAFSA, never giving up my identity. He handled the information I gave him with such care. I do not know if he remembers but I tell that story to my seniors every time I get the chance.”
Aspiring for empowerment
Writing personal statements and sharing their stories can be a transformative experience. When students complete the event series, Abranna hopes they will feel accomplished and gain a deeper understanding of their own identity not only for the college application process, but for life. “Whether or not they get the scholarships,” Abranna notes. “They were able to put their story on paper. Not only did they put it on paper, but they shared it. I want them to be proud of who they are and where they come from. That is not an easy journey, and it is a journey I am still on as a 24-year-old, but I am grateful for starting it earlier rather than later.”
Abranna’s event series at CSF is a remarkable effort to bridge the gap in college readiness for underrepresented students. By creating a structured and comprehensive set of courses, she empowers students to navigate the complexities of college education with confidence, courage and clarity. Advisors like Abranna make a profound impact on their community, staying vulnerable and open to help students dream big and achieve bigger. This student says it best: “Ms. Abranna is not someone who is doing these workshops just to put a check on her list. She is someone who is detailed, expects great things from you, and will inspire you to do things you didn’t even think you were capable of.
