Person first, ethnicity second

On paper I am a 21-year-old Hispanic female from a middle-class upbringing who is the first member of her family to attend college right out of high school. In other words, I have come across many obstacles to find myself here, two semesters away from graduation.

Earlier this year, California State University, Fresno was rated one of the top 20 schools to award bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics by the “Hispanic Outlook in Higher Educationâ€Â magazine. The magazine publishes an annual report that lists the nation’s top 100 four-year colleges and universities to give out the most bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to Hispanic students.

From the perspective of a Fresno State student, recognition proving the school is diverse is certainly a marketable feature. However, considered as part of the Hispanic percentile of students on campus, I am somewhat insulted.

The problem that stems from such an award is the implication Fresno State seeks out Hispanic students to hand degrees to. It̢۪s as if the university has a certain quota it has to meet in order to prove it is an equal opportunity establishment.

Degrees are a tangible piece of evidence showing how much hard work and time was put into a particular area of study. It is not something merely given to someone based on the amount of adversity they had to overcome.

The acknowledgment of one particular ethnic group does nothing more than marginalize it. When a group is singled out it creates a separation, establishing an apparent inequality. How is one group of people earning degrees any more newsworthy than another?

At a job interview or while introducing myself to potential employers, I never proclaim my ethnicity as a particular hurdle I̢۪ve spent my life reconciling with, nor do I identify myself as Hispanic in hopes of being chosen from the pool of other applicants regardless of how my qualifications compare.

My year-round tan and dark hair clearly identify me as Hispanic, a fact I have never been ashamed of or exploited to obtain something I didn̢۪t deserve.

I am an individual who should be evaluated based on my personal ability, not by the box I check off to classify what ethnic group I belong to.

Growing up, my mother always gave me advice such as “treat others the way you want to be treated,â€Â and the infamous “you can be anything you want to be.â€Â One of the most relevant and genuine ideals she imparted me with was to always strive for more than I was given and to never use any circumstance out of my control as an excuse to not give my personal best.

When I walk up to receive my bachelor̢۪s degree in May, I do not want my personal feat reduced to a gift that I am deserving of merely because of my Hispanic background. I, along with the fellow graduates I will have the privilege of accompanying, will have all earned the right to be there. Despite the varied ethnicities that will celebrate spring graduation, the degree will hold a universal representation for everyone: a valid confirmation of the hard work and perseverance that goes into such an accomplishment.