GUEST EDITORIAL: New Mexico's enrollment gains show what's possible

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. Thanks to expanded scholarships, free tuition programs and stronger academic programs, 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. But I also know how quickly that dream can start to slip away.

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. My father taught himself trigonometry to help me with my math homework. My mother’s face lit up whenever a teacher complimented my work ethic. They left everything behind to give me the kind of future they never had. 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. I worked summers in Hatch to help cover rent and groceries. I juggled long hours in class with late nights of studying, always worried about falling behind. By the end of my junior year, I had no engineering experience, no professional contacts and no clear sense of how to move forward. I started to wonder if I had come all this way only to fall short—and give up on the dream my parents and I had worked so hard to reach.

Then someone gave me a shot. I emailed every professor I could, looking for an opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Only two replied. One invited me to sit in on his lab’s weekly meetings. I showed up every week, took notes and asked questions. Eventually, he offered me a spot on his team and told me he believed I had what it took to pursue a Ph.D. That moment of encouragement changed everything.

Programs like the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) helped carry me the rest of the way. From my first day on campus through my doctoral defense, CAMP provided financial stability, consistent guidance and access to mentors who helped make my education sustainable. Just as importantly, it gave me a sense of belonging and the reassurance that I didn’t have to navigate college alone.

That’s why I’m hopeful about the work New Mexico is doing today but know that same work needs to be done around the country. We need to remain committed to not only helping students get to college but making sure they finish. New Mexico has an opportunity to lead the way — nearly 40 million Americans nationwide start college but never finish. They leave because they didn’t have structural systems of support to help them stay. This is where the challenge and the opportunity meet. Helping motivated, hard-working students stay enrolled means tackling the barriers that quietly push them out— whether it’s financial stress, limited academic guidance or a lack of access to real-world experience.

For me, finishing college was never just about earning a degree. It was about honoring the people who helped me get there. When I crossed the stage at my Ph.D. graduation, I wasn’t alone. I carried the weight of my parents’ sacrifices and the pride of everything we had overcome together. They never had the chance to go to college. But they built the foundation that made mine possible. I hope that in everything I do, I make them proud.

As a research and development engineer, I now get to mentor students who remind me of where I started. I know how powerful it is when someone believes in your potential, but belief alone is not enough. 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, and these enrollment gains are a powerful beginning. Now we need to follow through and give every student across the country the support to finish what they started and step into the future they’ve worked so hard to claim.