Enacting community cultural wealth: Exploring Mexican American college students’ persistence during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted students in a variety of ways, especially marginalized students. Using the community cultural wealth framework, this study examines how low-income Mexican American students in the United States navigated college during the pandemic and era of remote learning. Data was derived from 27 in-depth interviews with students at two public research universities in California. The study found that students stayed academically resilient in school and learned to adjust to the new school norms. Although their opportunities and social networks were affected, students took the initiative to create their own networks and look for opportunities. Some students also benefitted from the remote learning environment because of its flexibility with their schedules. In thinking about their futures, many students remained optimistic and did not change much about their goals. A few students were uncertain about their futures but were determined to finish their college degrees. These students activated their community cultural wealth in ways to help them be academically persistent in college during the COVID-19 pandemic.