by Ulises Silva

Trying something before buying it can sometimes make an important purchase easier to make. But how can you try living with other college students before knowing it’s what you want? How about a sleepover at a new student residence hall in Pilsen?
That’s exactly what happened over the course of three weeks in March, when students from the Instituto Health Science Career Academy (IHSCA) and the Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy (RLLA) got a sneak peek into college life during a three-part event at La Casa Student Housing hosted by The Resurrection Project and Escalera College Bridge Program.
The first event was a tour of La Casa Student Housing in Pilsen, where Maria Bucio, Director of La Casa, gave Escalera youth and mentors a walking tour of this stunning, award-winning student residence hall.
“Escalera students now know that La Casa is not just a place to live,” says Bucio. “It is a living-learning community that provides added perks like an on-site Resource Center, a computer lab, a fitness center, laundry room, and specialized supports to help them navigate the complexities of college life.”
Next came a sleepover at La Casa in which students got a glimpse of what it’s like to live in a student residence alongside peers. Twenty youth took part in the sleepover, sharing suites on the fourth floor of La Casa, cooking meals together, and getting to know each other. It was an immersive snapshot of what it will be like to live away from home and in an environment where everyone is pursuing the same goal—a bachelor’s degree.
“Research indicates that students who live in student housing graduate sooner and succeed academically at higher rates than students who live at home,” says Bucio. “During the overnight stay at La Casa, Escalera students had a unique opportunity to get a feel for the types of benefits that come with living among young people who share academic goals and interests in a place that provides specialized supports and resources.”
Finally, La Casa and Escalera College staff hosted a third event, a parent night where students’ parents asked questions and engaged in a meaningful discussion about college, life in student housing, and about what it means for families to have their adolescents go away for college.
“One thing that is vital to our participants,” says Hector Cambray of Escalera, “is understanding that when they are going through the college process, it is not just the student, it is the whole family that is going through a new phase and life-changing choice.”
The event was a tremendous success. It helped students get an important sneak-peek, try-before-you-buy experience of life in student housing.
However, the event was just as important for families to get a glimpse of what they can expect as their adolescents embark in the pursuit of a college degree—and what they can do to support that process.
“As adults,” says Cambray, “we must remember that it is all the little things we do that help youth see the bigger picture of life. If we want to make positive change for the future, let’s make today count for a brighter tomorrow.”
To arrange a tour or to learn more about La Casa student housing and resource center in Pilsen, visit www.lacasastudenthousing.org.

Return to Nueva Vida March 2013 here!