YouTube Video Link: First-Gen at USC

Above is a video produced by USC Annenberg which gives a glimpse into Tomás’s background and his experiences as a first generation student at USC. At USC, Tomás is a double major in Journalism and Latino Studies. He is Managing Editor of both The Daily Trojan, USC’s main newspaper, and Dímelo, a Snapchat news delivery outlet on Latino-American issues. Currently, he is interning with The Today Show.

Tomás’s Interview

AC: Throughout high school, you were a very high achieving student. You were at the top of our class, a leader for our student body and the Latino community? What motivated you to go above and beyond? Is there anything in particular about growing up in Silicon Valley and going to Santa Clara High School which either pushed you or made it harder to achieve?

TM: Thanks for saying that, it means a lot. I think that being surrounded by other high achieving students, regardless of socioeconomic status or race, definitely motivated me to try my best. Growing up in a household where neither of my parents had a chance to reach higher education motivated me to work hard for them. My parents immigrated to this country before my birth in order to give me a future I would have never dreamed of in Mexico, so I want to make sure that their sacrifices are worth it.

 

AC: At USC, I imagine that the student body has greater wealth disparities and less diversity than our community in Santa Clara. How was this transition at first?

TM: Transitioning to USC was definitely hard, especially at Annenberg, the journalism school. Most students there are typically white and rich. Thankfully though, I had the opportunity to live on the Latino Floor my first year. The Latino floor is a place where Latino students can interact with each other and transition into the college lifestyle together. Seeing other students with similar experiences really helped make the transition easier. In classes though, it was often hard to relate to students who came from wealth, as they didn’t share very many experiences with me.

 

AC: Some children of undocumented parents describe growing up feeling like they are “second-class citizens.” Did you ever feel that in our community, and how did it affect you?

TM: I definitely did feel like my parents and family were treated like second-class citizens. I always noticed how my mom and dad would act around police officers, attempting to be as unnoticeable as possible. My dad, to this day, is afraid of driving to visit me to Los Angeles because he is fearful that he could be spotted by immigration and potentially deported. My biggest fear growing up was having my parents deported, stripped away from me because they lack proper documentation. I don’t think anyone deserves to feel that way.

 

AC: Did you think there were adequate resources made available for undocumented people living in Silicon Valley?

TM: I think, in general, undocumented people are in a “free for all” environment. There isn’t any centralized organization that helps undocumented students in Silicon Valley. It is also very easy for undocumented immigrants to fall in the hands of people who offer legal help and only take their money. Many of my family members have had to deal with those types of situations where people who pose as lawyers and scam undocumented people into handing over money.

 

AC: Do you ever imagine if you had grown up in a different neighborhood, city, or even state, and if your identity would be treated differently there?

TM: I definitely do think that I grew up in an accepting neighborhood and community. I’ve thought what life would be like if, say, my parents had decided to live in a red state. I definitely do think my experiences as the son of undocumented immigrants would have changed substantially if we lived in a different state or city.

 

AC: Do you agree with the perception held by some that Silicon Valley is a place where diversity is championed?

TM: I definitely do agree with that.

 

AC: In this curation, I’m studying how wealthier white and Asian students in SV typically have more resources and access to higher quality schooling. How do you think we can make these educational opportunities more equitable for all?

TM: It’s true — wealthy Asian and white students typically have more access to resources, starting with access to parents who attended college. I think that high schools should have an office or a center for students who are their first in their families to attend college, but I also believe that Latino and low income students deserve to be motivated by teachers to attend college from an early age. Attending college should be the expectation, not just a possibility. I also don’t think it’s fair that public schools in wealthier neighborhoods receive more funding than schools in poorer neighborhoods. I think that dividing property taxes evenly among schools in the county will allow schools to receive more resources and therefore better serve low-income students.

 

AC: At a young age you are already establishing yourself as a leader in the journalism world, and I know that you want to use your career to help empower Latinos. What’s next, and what type of impact do you hope to make?

TM: I really hope to be a young, Latino voice in a field dominated by old, white men. I hope to increase the amount of coverage communities of color get in the media. Representation is important and I hope the next generation gets to see more faces like them in media. I hope to be a voice for people like my family who often feel voiceless because of their legal status.

 

Tomás standing up for undocumented immigrants at USC.

Tomás with his parents, who he calls his inspiration.

 

Tomás’s story is a vivid and inspiring representation of what Silicon Valley’s “devil” means today for the next generation. HIs story shows that despite facing extremely difficult challenges which are characteristic of Pitti’s “devil,” the Latino community is one that is fighting hard to create a more inclusive and equitable tomorrow. Furthermore, Tomás strikes a balance between being critical and appreciative of Silicon Valley. This candid and original take gives reason to believe that the Silicon Valley is changing for the better, yet still has a far way to go.