Empezando La Carrera: Factors That Impact Career Readiness in First-Time-In-College First-Generation Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Author

Yadira Mejia, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

12-1-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Marie Simonsson

Second Advisor

Hilda Silva

Third Advisor

Velma Menchaca

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the factors that impact career readiness in First-Time-In-College, First-Generation Hispanic students attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The study entailed 15 student participants, who provided their testimonios or narratives, to explore the challenges and strategies within an economically disadvantaged region. The theoretical foundation relies on Stanton-Salazar’s (2011) Social Capital Framework, which conceptualizes faculty and staff as Institutional Agents crucial for providing resources and mentorship when students lack prior guidance. The major findings highlighted that students found an empowering sense of cultural belonging within the HSI, yet they struggled with structural barriers such as financial strain and the unspoken hidden curriculum of university life. Despite these obstacles, the student participants demonstrated resilience and developed career-ready skills, progressing from initial confusion to proactively building agency and professional networks. The study concludes with implications for institutional leaders regarding the necessity of aligning curriculum and advising models to better support students as they begin their first year in higher education.

Comments

Copyright 2025 Yadira Mejia. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3298629941

Recommended Citation

Mejia, Y. (2025). Empezando La Carrera: Factors That Impact Career Readiness in First-Time-In-College First-Generation Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution [Doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1813