New Mexico is seeing real momentum — and it’s no accident. After years of declining college enrollment, the state made a historic $1.2 billion investment in higher education in 2023. That bold move sent a clear message: College should be accessible to more students, no matter their background.

That investment is driving real change. First-year enrollment has increased by 23% since 2021. More students are stepping onto campus believing college can open the door to a future they’ve dreamed about for years.

I believe that, too, because I’ve lived it. I’m a first-generation college graduate. My parents, who only received up to a third-grade education in Mexico, always believed in the power of learning. For them, my education was their dream made real.

When I enrolled at New Mexico State University, I had a full-tuition scholarship. But that didn’t mean the path was smooth. By the end of my junior year, I had no engineering experience, no professional contacts and no clear sense of how to move forward.

Then someone gave me a shot. A professor invited me to his lab’s weekly meetings and eventually offered me a spot on his team. That moment of encouragement changed everything.

Programs like the College Assistance Migrant Program helped carry me the rest of the way, providing financial stability, guidance and mentors who helped make my education sustainable.

That’s why I’m hopeful about the work New Mexico is doing today. We need to remain committed to not only helping students get to college but making sure they finish. Nearly 40 million Americans nationwide start college but never finish because they lack structural support systems.

For me, finishing college was about honoring the people who helped me get there. When I crossed the stage at my Ph.D. graduation, I carried the weight of my parents’ sacrifices and everything we had overcome together.

Students need real support, real structure and real pathways from enrollment to graduation and into meaningful careers. New Mexico’s investments are helping get students in the door. Now we need to follow through and give every student the support to finish what they started.

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