Inspiring the next generation: Lilia’s story

Lilia knows firsthand the difference CSF makes in the lives of students who need it most. “I had never really thought about college because I knew that I couldn’t afford it,” she recalls. But that changed after she joined CSF’s Achievers program at Kent-Meridian High School and heard her advisor give a presentation about college.

Lilia talked with CSF staff member and first-generation college grad Angie Winkle about her college and career journey.

Angie: Tell me about yourself and your connection to CSF. 

Lilia: I had always assumed that college was for the highest achievers or the 4.0 students, not students like me who earned B and C grades. But my CSF advisor talked about how CSF supports students who are first-generation and low-income—the students who fall through the cracks and need an extra push.

CSF let us know that we were wanted. Working with my advisor inspired me to apply for college. When I ended up getting selected, I was so excited!

After high school, I was accepted to and attended Western Washington University, but I didn’t really gain my footing when I got there. I was doing a lot of commuting. And while going to school, there were times when I was still helping my family out with money. It was stressful.

I worked with CSF advisors who were amazing. There were so many times I went to them and had no idea what I was doing. The financial support was helpful, but it was those faces that got me through.

I’m half Samoan and noticed there were barely any Samoans on campus. CSF helped connect me with another Samoan girl. It felt good to build a friendship with someone who could relate to my experience as a student of color. 

Angie: People think that when you get to college, you’ve “made it.” But first-generation students and students of color have to learn to navigate a whole other set of barriers once they get to college. So that’s awesome that CSF was there to help you figure that out. What was your journey like after graduating from Western?

Lilia: Had it not been for CSF, I would have not known about my passion for education. After college, I went full circle and became the office administrator at CSF. Now I am the executive assistant for the Chancellor’s Office with Seattle Colleges where I support the board of trustees, the chancellor, and several district-wide committees. I also do volunteer work with Communities in Schools by mentoring a 6th grader.

There was a time in college when I was going through some personal things, and I took a break from college for two years. When I was ready to come back, CSF helped me get back on track for school. When I came back from taking a break, I earned straight As during my last year and was on the dean’s list when I graduated. It was everything that I had been striving toward but just didn’t have the mental capacity for when I was a little bit younger.  

Angie: What matters is that you came back when you were ready, and you did it! 

Lilia: Yeah. That’s what was so helpful about CSF. There was always somebody I could reach out to. Someone to help me figure out what my options were.

Being the first in my family to attend college is already paving the way for future generations. The upward mobility I have gained as a college graduate is unimaginable to the teenage Lilia. It is such an eye-opening thing to think about—the impact that education has on entire families. 

Angie: Absolutely. Being able to go to college and having access to other opportunities really does make a difference and opens doors.  

Lilia: When I worked the front desk for CSF, we were able to help out a student who purchased a new couch after it broke and fell short on rent. As a student, I would have never thought of asking for help with something like that. It’s so great that CSF is able to do that for the students and give the extra support for these things that you never think about when going to college. You think you are just going to need a car and a room, but there is so much more that you have to pay for, do, and remember.

I can’t express how important it is to have someone to help guide you during such a formative time. When I worked the front desk at CSF, I would sometimes get calls from students who disclosed that this was the first time they have ever made a phone call by themselves and talked to somebody outside of high school, and they didn’t know where to start. In my role at that time, I connected them to the right people who could get the answers they needed. It’s so cool to be on this side of the story now—being able to be that person to help them figure it out.

Angie: What inspired you to start your monthly gift to CSF? 

Lilia: Being a CSF scholar and now being on the other side of it as a donor. I also know how far that money can go. I don’t have a ton of money I can donate, but I know that my $10 a month contribution goes towards things like helping pay for a student’s snacks during their college campus tours. That matters.

I just can’t imagine where I would be had I not talked to my CSF advisor that day in high school almost 20 years ago. To pay it forward, I am trying to give back and pave the way for others to put education first—for students and for my family. I am hoping to inspire the next generation and prove that when we pursue an education, we can thrive instead of just having to survive.

Supporting CSF empowers scholars like Lilia to seize the life-changing opportunity of higher education. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of students who need these resources the most. Consider becoming a monthly donor and join our Circle of Support today.