Excellence in the Struggle: The Educational Journeys of Latina/o/x High School Youth

• In Event: 25.057 - Our Hemispheric Legacy: Reclaiming Educational Excellence Through the Voices and Experiences of Latina/o/x Youth

Abstract

Objectives or Purposes
This paper examines the educational journeys of high school Latina/o/x youth and how the different frames of family, culture and agency shaped their perceptions of excellence. Our purpose is to 1) examine where students found excellence in their P-9 educational journeys and 2) identify the experiences that cultivated the students’ definition of excellence.

Perspective(s) or Theoretical Framework
Among collectivist cultures the concept that the family comes first is referred to as familismo - a reciprocatory in-group connectedness that emphasizes the goals of the family (Calzada, Tamis-LeMonda & Yoshikawa, 2012; Valenzuela, 1999). The term was first developed during the 1950’s to describe the compelling feeling to honor and support the family shared among collectivist cultures (Calzada et al., 2012). We use familismo in this paper to examine the role of the family and kinship in the educational experiences of the Latina/o/x youth in and beyond school spaces.

Methods and Context
This paper emerged from an in-depth, cross-case, comparative, phenomenological exploration of excellence based on the voices and experiences of high school youth and their families. This study took place at a predominantly Latina/o/x high school in southern California’s Inland Empire. Our research team engaged in in-depth qualitative research in a 9th grade classroom with 29 students and their Latina/o/x AVID teacher for six months. 26 out of 29 students were Latina/o/x. Data collected includes observations, educational journeys, photovoice projects, and Loteria cards.

Data Sources
For the purposes of this paper, educational journeys were analyzed to understand how youth defined excellence and where they experienced it in their P-9 educational journeys. Students were asked to write and draw three defining moments in their educational journey. Each educational journey was individually coded and collectively analyzed by our research team followed by cross-case analysis.

Results
Findings highlight the significant role family and struggle play in the educational journeys of our students and how it influences their definition of excellence. Family were highly influential on student academic performance and their ability to persevere through personal struggles that range from deportation, loss, and illness. Students were motivated to perform well academically as result of family support, such as when their families rewarded them with approval or praise of their achievements.

Scientific or scholarly significance of the study or work
Findings from this study challenge us to consider the ways Latina/o/x youth are defining excellence and persevering in their educational journeys during times of struggle and strife in a post-truth era. Understanding the important role families play in the ability of Latinx youth to persevere in education is key for teachers, researchers and policy makers to understand in order to provide a just and transformative education for and with Latina/o/x communities.

Authors

• Cindy Macias, University of California - Riverside

• Karly Smith

• Elisa Chang