Fallen Star, Rising Dream

"Fallen Star, Rising Dream" is a deeply personal reflection on my journey as a first-generation student, navigating the challenges of higher education and defying the doubts placed upon me. The poem begins with a vivid image of my childhood home—a small, slightly off-level blue house—which symbolizes the instability and uncertainty I faced growing up. A school counselor once told me, "Why even try?", reinforcing the barriers that many first-gen students experience when striving for something beyond what is expected of them.

Despite this discouragement, I chose to push forward, even without a clear roadmap. Community college became my starting point, a place where I had to figure everything out on my own, balancing school, work, and the expectations placed on me by my family's sacrifices. I use the contrast of a cold, unforgiving concrete jungle against the warmth of a space where I could finally grow to illustrate the shift from struggle to possibility.

The turning point in my journey is symbolized by the Fallen Star at UC San Diego, a house that appears impossibly perched on the edge of a building. When I first saw it, I was struck by how much it reminded me of my own story—growing up in an unstable home, yet somehow finding myself in a place I was told I’d never reach. Like the Fallen Star, my presence in higher education may seem improbable, but it stands as proof that resilience, determination, and belief can overcome any obstacle.

Ultimately, this poem is about rewriting the narrative of what is possible. I no longer look at ceilings as limits—I look to the sky, filled with infinite possibilities. The path here wasn’t easy, but it has given me the strength to dream bigger, to advocate for others, and to build a future where opportunity is not a lottery, but a right for all.