USD Magazine, Winter 2001

AGAINST ALL ODDS The odds against Javier Marin going to college were as high as the crackheads he passed each day on his way to Little League practice in l1is Santa Ana neighborhood. H e witnessed his first drive-by shooting by rhe first grade. His parents, both Mexican migrant

WHERE TO START All types of financial aid start with an application to determine eligi– bility. At USD, the two major forms required are: FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID The FAFSA, as it is better known, is the primary application for fed– eral loan and grant programs and requests basic information like student and family income and net worth. It's also used by universi– ties to supplement their financial aid information. The free form is available at high schools, colleges, the USD Financial Aid Office or can be filled out online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. USD FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION To apply for USD scholarships and loans, students also must fill out this form, which is used to put together individual financial aid packages. The form can be picked up at the Financial Aid Office or down– loaded at www.acusd.edu (click on academic services, then finan– cial aid). APPLICATION DEADLINES vary, but incoming freshmen usual– ly must have the forms in by mid February, and continuing students by April I. Call the USD Financial Aid Office at (619) 260-4514.

che university views as cop candidates, Marin pulled cogecher about $22,000 a year in monies co help him through school. In May, Marin will graduate with a degree in soci– ology and an expected job offer from either the San Diego Police Department or che California Highway Patrol. He will face about $25,000 in loans for his four years at USO. "If ic weren't for the grants and scholarships, I wouldn't be here today talking about graduating," says Marin, who is helping his younger brother and sister, borh high school students, fill out their college applications.

workers, spoke licrle English. When he was 6, his father died, forcing his older brother and sister co drop out of school co support che family. Determined co graduate Century High School and accend a university, Marin saw athletics as his cickec ouc. A football quarterback, he was being recruited and was on crack co land a scholarship co che Air Force Academy. The first game of his senior year, he blew out his knee. The corn ligament left him emotionally shaccered, but he refused co give up. With the help of his coaches and English teacher, he con-

centrated on academics. He graduated with a 3.8 grade point average and applied co the cop California schools - UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford, USO. Bue his coughesc challenge was scaring him in che face. If he goc accepted co college, how would he pay for it?

FINANCIAL AID FACTS Tllere are 660 first-generation college students at USO - kids wllose parents never attended college.

Marin is known on campus for his achievements. He is a member of the National Mortar Board, Alacala Leadership Program, Orientation Team and a year-round intramural athlete. He works for the Associated Students and has a second job as a youth counselor for che San Diego Juvenile Probation Department. And he is a new father co 8-month-old Lourdes with his fiancee, Celena Rodriguez, a San Diego State University senior. "Javier is an amazing person," says Professor Anne Hendershott, who has relied on him in her sociology classes co tell his fellow students what life is like in a cough neighborhood. "The other students admire him, because he has lived through so much, but is willing co share his stories. He just keeps saying he is so lucky co be here. " Marin has some advice for those thinking the hur– dles co a college education are coo high: "Remember, it's your education, not theirs. The resources are out there, you just have co keep at it, and don't let go of your dream. "

"There were so many forms and so much paper– work. After a while, I got pretty much overwhelmed by che whole process," says Marin, whose mother could offer licrle help because she couldn't read English. "Bue my mother inspired me. She cold me not co give up, no maccer what."

With che help of his teachers and older sister (who had a full-ride scholarship co Berkeley but gave it up co support the family) Marin sec up appointments with the school's financial aid counselors, filled out federal applications and gathered up every scholarship application he found on the school bulletin board or che Internee. When he was accepted co USO, financial aid officers began supplementing the money Marin had sought on his own. Through a combination of grants and scholarships, including a USO incentive scholarship, which is used co complete the financial aid packages of students whom

Javier Marin

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USD MAGAZINE