- It wasn't until 2013 when I received
my permanent resident card in the mail.
This was after talking to lawyers
and waiting for the 13 years to happen.
After that, I went and applied to college.
(light peppy music)
My name is Juan Sebastian Rubio
My major is mechanical engineering,
and I have a minor in
aerospace engineering.
I was born in Columbia,
and my family was born there, as well.
My mother came here in 2000,
and in two years she brought
the rest of my siblings and I.
And then when I graduated high school,
again, she did not kind
of give me an option.
She just said, oh, we just have to wait
to become permanent residents.
She didn't know that you can go to college
even if you don't have
an immigration status.
I just did it on my own.
I moved out of my house at 18,
and I worked for four years.
It wasn't until four years later
when I received my permanent resident card
that I applied and
started community college.
Not having parents that went to college
affected me in a way that I did not know
what engineering was
until I started applying
for out-of-state colleges.
So, this was after my associate's degree
that I learned what engineering was.
But coming here, I did
my first two semesters
as aerospace engineer, and then I switched
to mechanical engineering.
The first challenge of being
a first generation student
is not having that great
educational background.
I did not go to the best middle school
or the best high school.
I coped with that background
of being a first generation student,
the way I do it is working hard.
If I give my best at whatever I do,
then I don't have to carry that with me.
My first semester here was very hard.
I did not know anyone.
I did not have any friends.
I was in a classroom with students
that were 18 years old, I was 25.
I felt a bit intimidated.
I was not prepared for this.
I remember I was in the
Clough undergraduate building,
so I went to ask one of the tutors there
to help me understand this concept.
And he was a bit surprised
that I did not know it.
So, I just started bursting
in tears, and I walked out.
And this girl came to me and she said,
"What's happened? What's happening?"
And she took me to the
Center of Academy Success,
but she calmed me down, helped me fill out
a weekly schedule that they have.
And this was really what changed my road
from failing grades,
which I started failing,
to getting four A's and one B.
I am proud of myself for
continuing and working hard,
and working through the hoops,
even though I don't have those advantages
of having a good
economical for background.
It's not affecting me
because I am working hard.
I would say that knowing that my mother
did not go to college
inspires me to work harder.
The least thing that I
could do is appreciate
being in a classroom, not skipping class,
really enjoying my time here.
Always remember that
there are other people
that cannot go to college
because of their background.
And around the world there are students
that will never have an education.
So, don't take it for granted.
If you are afraid of going to college
because of your economical background,
or your family background,
just forget about that.
The moment you start forgetting about that
and pursuing your education,
if you want to go to college, you can.
My parents don't have money.
I did not have savings.
I did not have the resources
to come to Georgia Tech.
I am planning to apply to a Ph.D. program
in mechanical engineering
here at Georgia Tech.
Do what it takes.
Don't put excuses because
of your background
or because you don't have the money.
There is a way and you will find a way.
I found my way and I'm here.
