First Gen. Student, Second Gen. Citizen
Written By Miles Klind
Carlos Beltran’s mother works at a Holiday Inn Hotel in McCall, Idaho, and a local restaurant. She is currently in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. “She is the reason why I’m going to college,” Mr. Beltran said. “She is the reason I stay motivated to help and support my family.”
Mr. Beltran is a 21-year-old first-generation college student who grew up in McCall, Idaho. He is currently enrolled at the College of Western Idaho (CWI) in Nampa. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Mr. Beltran drives nearly 120 miles in his “‘Lil’ Subaru legacy” to attend classes. Then, he motors home.
Mr. Beltran is no stranger to this stretch of highway 55. After graduating high school, he enrolled in CWI’s 2-year diesel mechanics certification program after taking a gap year. He worked as a cook in McCall’s local gas station diner and commuted to classes twice a week.
Later he quit the diner job and moved to Boise. He stayed for a while, living in a student housing apartment near the Boise State University campus with three roommates. Over the last week, he has packed his belongings and moved back to McCall.
“I feel like I’ve been living alone, and it was becoming mentally draining,” Mr. Beltran said. He described how isolating it felt to be away from his family. “I miss them.”
Mr. Beltran’s family consists of his single mother, older brother, and younger sister. “When my dad left, I was just a kid,” he said. “My mom didn’t even graduate middle school.”
Life was a struggle for Mr. Beltran and his family. His mother immigrated to the United States in 1997 when she was only 19 years old. She came over the border from Sinaloa, Mexico, searching for a better life. Mr. Beltran grew up bunking with his siblings in small bedrooms of low-income housing developments.
Mr. Beltran’s birthfather skipped town when he was eight years old, abandoning the family. “His dad died, and he just changed.” Mr. Beltran said. After the death of his grandfather, Mr. Beltran and his siblings received regular physical abuse at their father’s hand. “Then one day, he just decided to leave,” Mr. Beltran said.
Mr. Beltran’s mother, whose name will remain anonymous to preserve her safety, came to the U.S without proper documentation. This made finding work as a single mother incredibly difficult. “Most places require a Social [Security Card] to work,” Mr. Beltran said. “Still, she worked three to four jobs most of my life.”
Since moving back to his hometown to be closer to his family, Mr. Beltran has gotten a job as a ski lift operator at Brundage Mountain Resort. He still has his lease in Boise, but his belongings are slowly migrating North. He intends to shift towards online learning, as many other students have chosen nationwide. Mr. Beltran plans to graduate next spring, citing his mother as his inspiration.
