Misa Beltran-Guzman: Empowering First-Generation Students
Misa Beltran-Guzman, Director of First-Generation Programs at Bates, draws from his personal experience to support students. As a first-gen American from a working-class neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio, he attended a private college preparatory high school, where he faced culture shocks as a low-income student of color in a predominantly white and affluent setting.
I felt very out of place the first couple years of high school. Sometimes when I think back, I felt like a ghost when I navigated that first year of high school.
Despite the challenges, Beltran-Guzman's parents, immigrants from Mexico, instilled in him the importance of education. Now, he encourages Bates students to find their 'why' and navigate their own paths.
Author's summary: Misa Beltran-Guzman supports first-gen students at Bates.