Jump Starting First-Generation Students College Careers
Students gather in the large meeting room before starting their scavenger hunt activity. Photo Credit: Leila Alarcon.
Sitting in front of a screen, staring at an unfilled college application, FAFSA application or scholarship application with no idea where to start and no one to turn to for help. This is the situation Operation Jump Start prevents first-generation college students from experiencing.
For 30 years, Operation Jump Start, or OJS, has offered mentorship programming to first-generation, low-income students in the Long Beach Unified School District so that they can have successful college careers. Originally, mentorship programs assisted high school students with meeting graduation requirements but later shifted to a college access program. Then, 10 years later, developed to include a college success program.
OJS continued to grow adding tutoring, scholarships and travel opportunities for the students. Travel opportunities can be local or international, with past trips including the Grand Canyon, Catalina Island and Guanajuato, Mexico, for an International Arts Festival.
“They'll say, it's the first time I was on a plane or even the first time I've stayed in a hotel or it's the first time I've eaten at a fancy steak restaurant; like that is transformative,” said Irene Quevedo, chief executive officer of Operation Jump Start.
“That is exciting because they get to college and maybe around peers that they travel all the time; they eat fancy restaurant dinners all the time. Our students get to say ‘me too’ and belong.”
Quevedo is a first-generation student herself, coming from a family of six children, none of whom made it to college. While attending UC Santa Barbara, she worked with the non-profit organization Girls Inc., a mentorship program. There she was inspired to continue working with nonprofits post-graduation.
She knew she wanted to work with first-generation college students, leading her to find Operation Jump Start and start as a case manager. Quevedo has been with OJS for 15 years, witnessing the improvements of the students who join their programs.
“The biggest changes I see in our students, it's just their level of confidence,” Quevedo said. “ I see it for our students here: that they get the knowledge of what is it to be a leader, what is it to give back, what is it to be college-ready, what is it to show up. They really do transform.”
Anahi Hernandez-Cruz, a programming coordinator at Operation Jump Start, was originally a participant in the program; joining during her sophomore year of high school and continuing through to her graduation from Cal State Long Beach in 2023. After learning and growing her confidence at OJS, she returned to give back through her programming work with students and parents.
“I used to be very shy and reserved, I still am in some cases, and I definitely noticed changes within my personality while engaging with students and families. Because of the work that I intend to do with students and their families, I do see more parent engagement,” Anahi said. “It has been a goal for myself and the program to grow our parent engagement and through workshops like parent academy.”
Even after her graduation, Anahi continues to be supported by OJS as she prepares for graduate school.
When Quevedo first started at OJS, there were only enough mentors to assist less than 100 students. Now there are enough mentors to assist 300 students, 40 to 50 per grade level, and a class size of 37 graduating high school students.
Students can start in the college access and mentoring program as early as eighth grade. Admission is rolling and students are required to be low-income, the first in their family to go to college, be a student in the Long Beach Unified School District and have a well-standing GPA to be on track for college. There is a second entry point for juniors in high school and the same requirements apply.
One of the rooms available for students to work in. Photo Credit: Leila Alarcon.
Esmeralda Hernandez Cruz, a Cal State Long Beach student currently enrolled in the Operation Jump Start college program, has been going to OJS since her sophomore year of high school after needing a push to improve her grades. After joining, mandatory counseling and a quiet place to study helped her improve her grades and complete community service hours.
“I have three younger siblings. So I would get home and it was pretty loud in the house,” Esmeralda said. “For a while, I couldn't really concentrate and do my homework with so much noise, but the office helped me out so much just because I was able to go there and do my homework.”
Esmeralda was also a part of the Youth Leadership Ambassador program within OJS. She would help OJS host events and recruit members, helping her become more extroverted. Now as a college student, she still receives counseling and financial aid that has helped her pay for textbooks and other supplies.
Along with student admission, applications for mentors are open year-round. A college degree is required so mentors can properly advise students and be ready to commit to the time needed to mentor their students.
College students meet with their counselors at least twice a month to support them in accessing resources on their campus and scholarships provided by OJS.
Juniors and seniors preparing to apply to colleges have a more intensive course called “Super Clubs.” Twice a month, juniors and seniors have writing workshops and financial literacy workshops to prepare for college essays and FAFSA applications. There are also alumni panels so students can ask about any concerns they have.
Recently, OJS has implemented a memorandum of understanding with the Long Beach Unified School District to expand their partnership within the schools. Quevedo is also working on developing a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club and so much more.
Going strong for 30 years has created a positive experience for students and parents, letting them know OJS is reliable. Most importantly, first-generation students can tackle college with confidence.