Graduation is rarely if ever looked at as a form of activism, but with low graduation rates and a high level of poverty amongst Latinos it is easy to see how it can be the most effective form of activism. Since the year 1980, the number of Hispanics has grown five times faster than the rest of the population. [6]. Yet, only about half the Hispanics are graduating from High School. To make matters worse only 12% of all Latinos hold a 4 year college or university degree.[2] These statistics have lead many people to believe that Hispanics in this country are only here to perform manual labor. Negative stereotypes, such as the aforementioned, are leading many people to believe that Latinos are incapable of progressing academically. In order for Latinos to progress in life, they must break the stereotypes that have been placed in front of them. The more Latino graduates there are the better the opportunity is for the Latino community to grew and move up in society. With each Latino graduate the Latino community grows as a whole. The youth in the Latino community, especially those with immigrant families, find it difficult to relate and picture themselves as anything more than lower class workers. The more often that the youth in these communities see people going off to college and obtaining degrees, the more role models that there are for Latino youths.
   
Many Latinos here at the University of Michigan, and on campuses throughout the U.S., understand the importance of giving back to their community. In an interview with Abel Mota[1], graduating class of 2005, he spoke to me about the importance of him giving back to his people. This summer Mr. Mota (pictured above) accepted a job as a teacher in the Houston, Texas area teaching 4th graders, many who come from non-English speaking families. Abel told me that the main reason for him choosing teaching over law school was mostly due to the fact that he felt he could contribute more to the growth of people and communities more so as a teacher than a lawyer. He feels that minorities all across the country are taught by teachers do not have an understand of their students, thus they can not truly help their students fully grasp the material and apply to their worlds. Now, half way done with his first year of teaching, he feels as if he is changing the mentally of many of the students at his school. Weather it is his 4th graders asking him more question's about colleges, or if it's the 8th grade students asking for advise and recommendations so that they too can one be more than just another underpaid laborer.

Mr. Mota is a living example of how graduation is a form of activism. If the ultimate goal of activism is to change society and rebel the current way of life in to a more peaceful way. Then there is no better way to make an impact on society then by educating ourselves and bettering our own way of life. At the same time, setting an example for the unguided youth.  As the Latino  population continues to grows and more and more Latinos get educated the more likely  change is to happen within their communities. The more often this happens, the quicker that we will see Latinos not being portrayed as unintelligent laborers, but instead as successful professors, doctors, businessman, lawyers, politicians, etc.