Dalia Ramirez could not imagine herself going to college, especially at a young age. Raised in a home with undocumented family members, she witnessed her late father being deported from the United States while only in elementary school. Ramirez also takes care of her brother to help her mom who works two jobs.
“I expected my high school graduation, but I didn't see myself going to college so soon because of financial aid and not knowing how to navigate getting there,” said Ramirez, 20.
As a first-generation Mexican American living in San Diego she experienced many first time challenges including the freedom to be proud of her culture. “I always felt too Mexican for Americans and too American for Mexicans. Growing up my family and I were constantly surrounded by fear and uncertainty. We never had the same privileges as other Americans.”
To her surprise, Ramirez felt immediately welcomed at San Diego City College. She started taking general education classes at 15 through a dual enrollment program with San Diego High School and is a member of MEChA de City College, a campus club that promotes representation of Hispanic and Latino students on college campuses.
Unfortunately Ramirez had to fund her tuition privately due to her preceding status. She first studied medical assisting for its low cost and fast completion option. Then with the support of City College College counseling, she received federal financial aid and is presently majoring in both political science and journalism.
“City College is excellent. There is generous amounts of support for students like me from the food pantry to the campus closet which allows those in need access to professional attire for job interviews,” said Ramirez. “However, tuition can still be expensive and unattainable. There are so many hard-working students who are just trying to get an education any way they can. We need to make sure that community colleges remain affordable for everyone no matter their status.”
Ramirez is the first in her family to achieve a diploma and to go after a degree. “For as long as I could remember I wanted to go to school, to become a lawyer and to help others. My parents were not allowed to get an education but they placed a huge priority on academics for my brother and me.”
She shares those values with her peers. Ramirez was elected president of City College’s Associated Students (AS) for the 2024-25 academic year and serves as the college’s student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.
“I am an American citizen but my mom is undocumented which prevented me from accessing critical resources like public funding and scholarships. I understand both worlds; the privileges of this country and the hardships of coming from an immigrant family,” she said. “The requirements to earn a scholarship or a grant should not be so complicated, we want to learn, we want to work hard and that should be enough to afford an education.” Alongside other AS leaders, Ramirez is advocating for scholarship and transfer awareness, free printing, club funding, gas cards, and support with vision coverage for students in need of glasses.
Now she’s chasing her dream to go to law school to become an ally for young undocumented immigrants known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). “Until now, I always felt excluded. I want to leave a great impact for our students by supporting them in their journey.”
Ramirez will graduate from City College in Spring 2025 with plans to transfer to University of California, Irvine with the support of the UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.
Board President Bernie Rhinerson swears in the four student trustees during the
June 2024 Board of Trustees meeting. From left, Rhinerson, Dalia Ramirez (City College),
Haydee Zuniga (College of Continuing Education), Zora Williams (Mesa College),
and Hailey Hua (Miramar College).