Latina educational experiences and achievement: a phenomenological study

Abstract

This study examined the experiences and factors of six young women who participated in Mi Carrera. Mi Carrera is an after-school program, in Denver, Colorado, focusing on increasing Latina high school graduation and college entrance through teaching confidence building skills. The participants in this study were either in their last year of high school, graduated from high school or in their second year of college. The goal of the research was to understand the particular circumstances of the participants and to describe the meanings of their experiences in the Mi Carrera program. The study utilized a phenomenological approach of qualitative inquiry through personal interviews, focus group interviews, and a collection of resources that revealed thematic connections, threads of thought, and experiences that illuminated the essence or the "central underlying meaning" (Creswell, 1995) of the participants' experiences. All of the participants attended a Denver Public School. Most of the participants are one of the first in their immediate and extended family to graduate from high school and all have aspirations of attending or are already attending college. Four major themes emerged from the data: Perceived Common Problems, Common Experiences, Lessons from Mi Carrera, and Belief in their Future. The Perceived Common Problem Theme documented challenges faced by the participants: lack of parental guidance in their education because parents had limited educational backgrounds; participants were expected to assist with family financial responsibilities or caring for siblings, and this was perceived as a problem because they could not participate in many extracurricular activities in school; and finally, stereotypes played a role in the perceived common problems faced by the six participants. The Common Experiences Theme documents the participant experiences with teachers and counselors, and motivation from parents. The Lessons from Mi Carrera Theme describes how the program taught skills, beliefs, and positive attributes of being a woman and Latina. The last theme, Beliefs in their Future, provides insight about how the young women feel self-assured through a strong sense of self. They believe that they will accomplish their goals of graduating from college and make a difference in society.