Read the full article by Macy Yang at Hmong Daily News
There are several pathways to pursue higher education in California. As tuition and living costs rise, families and students need to weigh the value of a college degree more carefully than ever. Choosing a college means considering all costs beyond tuition. Careful evaluation helps students and families plan effectively for more affordable higher education.
Xong Her, a Sacramento native, said that not going to college was never an option for her. She grew up in a family of 10 children, and is now one of three with a college education. Her parents are first-generation refugees from Laos, and while they didn’t have a formal education, they wanted their children to be educated.
“They didn’t have anything,” she said. Her was raised on public assistance and a family farm business that generated more work than money. Community college was already a “defined path” for Her because of her family’s financial circumstances.