by Lirio Morales Ibarra, Ed.M.’24
In late March, one of my mentors and professors from my undergraduate institution flew out to visit HGSE with me. When I shared with her where I had gotten into the Ed School, she said, “LIRIO! You’re going to Harvard!!!” Her excitement was infectious, and until then, I had not allowed myself to become too thrilled since I was still uncertain about how to turn my dream of attending into reality.
When I was on campus, I met with HGSE faculty, staff, and two students from the Educational Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (ELOE) program. I learned valuable insights and guidance from them about navigating HGSE. As a fellow Latina, I was inspired by one of the students’ success and work, and we stayed in touch after our meeting. She went above and beyond and introduced me to her HGSE friends, who offered support and advice on everything from housing to classes to connecting with professors. Their support made me feel more confident as I embarked on a new journey at HGSE, but the path ahead was still full of unknowns.
I had a difficult time figuring out if I could attend due to financial constraints, and I eventually found a way to make it possible. In late July, I moved into my apartment. My family drove 20 hours from Georgia to help move my furniture in and it was really sweet to show them around HGSE! As a first-gen student from an immigrant family, moving that far from home was a big deal, and I was thankful to have their support. Before I knew it, it was August term and I was in the midst of foundations courses!
Finding my footing was challenging. I felt isolated being in a new place that was SO different from where I grew up. Having a roommate who is also a HGSE student was helpful because we could relate to each other about classes, stress, and just were sharing the HGSE experience as FGLI students. Something that helped me become an “adult” as a low-income student was finding a food pantry. Unfortunately, the pantry is off campus and not very accessible by public transit, but I have a friend who is so kind to drive me when I go. This has been a substantial help in making my money go a little further as I make it through the year. Having never experienced a New England winter, thrift stores were great places to slowly acquire more affordable winter gear. It was difficult keeping my head above water while navigating a new city, coursework, and adulting, but after a few weeks, I started to build community.
Through my Equity course focused on race and ethnicity, I built a foundation for my relationship with my professor, Dr. Jaein Lee. To say the least, she has been a gift. She has been incredibly supportive, offering wisdom and encouragement throughout my time at HGSE. I have discussed my story and how it has led me to my aspirations. Her mentorship has been pivotal to my learning how to navigate HGSE as a FGLI student. She has made it easy to ask questions about the norms of higher ed, further building my confidence in my ability to thrive here. Now, I am taking Equitable Practices in Higher Education: Support for First-Gen, Low-Income, and Immigrant Students class with her, and we are exploring the undocumented student perspective! My hope is that this example encourages students coming to HGSE to pursue relationships with professors, because in my experience, opening up and sharing my story and aspirations has allowed me to form deep meaningful relationships.
From my experience, sharing my story and aspirations has been instrumental in forging profound and meaningful relationships. For those considering HGSE or any graduate school, I highly recommend building a strong support system throughout your graduate journey. Mentors, peers, and academic advisors are critical to growth and progress. Establishing a robust network of support is essential for both personal and professional development.
author Lirio Morales Ibarra with her family
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