When Gerardo Noriega graduates from ±·“”±«āY³Ü³¾²¹ in spring 2022, heāll be the first in his family to earn a college degree.
Gerardo Noriega is the first student to arrive for an afternoon Genetics course at ±·“”±«āY³Ü³¾²¹. He slides into a seat and puts his laptop on the table. Noriega is just one semester away from graduating with a BS in Biological and Natural Resource Sciencesāthe first in his family to earn a college degree. Growing up, he never thought a bachelorās degree would be an option for him. But he wanted to learn, so after high school, he enrolled in a community college near his home in El Centro, California. When he finished his general education courses after two-plus years at community college, he thought financial realities spelled the end of his educational career.
āI did think it was going to be super expensive,ā he says. Then a friend told him about ±·“”±«āY³Ü³¾²¹, where he could get a bachelorās degree from a distinguished institution and have access to scholarships without having to move away from home.
Ā āAt ±·“”±«āY³Ü³¾²¹, I could stay home and save money, ” he said. āJust commute here and there.ā Itās an hour’s drive between his home in El Centro to ±·“”±«āY³Ü³¾²¹, but to Noriega, itās a price heās happy to pay. This semester he makes the commute every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. In past semesters, it was every weekday.
It wasnāt an easy transition from community college to university. āIn community college, they would always say like, āYou guys have to put more effort into it because once you get to a university, it’s harder,ā” he says. āAnd I think I didnāt really take that into consideration. So when I got here, I did kind of struggle.ā
Because his classes were smallāhis Genetics class has seven studentsāand he knew all of his professors, he felt comfortable asking for help. And he got it.
āMy professors were understanding. I could just go to office hours or set up an appointment and get help. Itās not like youāre on your own.ā
He now has his sights set on a masterās degree. During his time at ±·“”±«āY³Ü³¾²¹, he discovered he liked working in a lab and is interested in a masterās in biological science that will allow him to pursue that passion. But first: the NAU commencement ceremony. His proud parents canāt wait.
Noriega is the youngest of three children and part of a large extended family on both sides of the border. His brother works in construction, and his sister is a medical assistant. āIt’s kind of on me to graduate from a university,ā he says.
Heās setting an example for his younger cousins, who now have a role model to show them they have choices.
āI do have younger cousins, and I always tell them to consider college. I’ve been working in labor jobs. I’ve been working out in the fields. It’s an honorable job to do. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s hard work. But itās also good to go to college to get a good job. My college experience has been positive. So I would recommend NAU to them.ā
As the Genetics professor walks into the room, Noriega opens his laptop and gets back to work. Heās almost to the finish line; graduation is just a few months away.
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