From Uncertainty to Belonging: Justin’s Journey Through College Admissions

Justin Martinez-Posadas, a freshman at Columbia University

For many first-generation Hispanic students, the college application process is more than just essays and test scores. It is a journey that is shaped by sacrifices and the hope that there is space for them in places they were never taught to imagine themselves belonging. For Justin Martinez-Posadas, that journey began not with certainty, but with curiosity. 

Justin is a first-generation college student and was raised by a single mother, who is a Honduran immigrant. Growing up, he moved often, navigating instability while always finding his way back to his grandparents’ home. Education was important in his household; however, elite universities were never part of the conversation. While he did not lack ambition, those spaces felt distant from the life he navigated each day. 

Everything shifted when Justin learned about QuestBridge through an older student at his high school named Luis. Luis had been matched with Duke University on a full ride. Until then, Justin had never seen anyone like him attend a top university. 

“That was the first time it felt possible,” he shared. “Before that, I was never really motivated to apply to schools like that.” 

Seeing that representation changed his mindset and planted a seed that would soon grow. 

Although Justin initially felt nervous applying through QuestBridge’s National College Match, his acceptance into the College Prep Scholars Program gave him something he had never fully had before: confidence. The program didn’t just prepare him academically; it reminded him that he belonged in higher education. 

As the college application process intensified, Justin had to learn how to manage a demanding timeline alongside academic, extracurricular, and family responsibilities. Like many students, he didn’t have unlimited time or resources. However, he was self-aware of his strengths and weaknesses. 

“I’m a big procrastinator,” he admitted. “But understanding that about myself helped me while completing college applications.” 

Justin studied the QuestBridge timeline and began to map key deadlines onto his calendar. He worked during school breaks and spread out his supplemental essays in a way that felt manageable. Rather than trying to be perfect, he focused on doing what would help him the most. 

Still, as a first-generation Hispanic student applying to elite institutions, he felt immense pressure. Coming from a community where few people go on to college, imposter syndrome was hard for him to avoid. 

“There’s pressure when you don’t see people from where you’re from going to college, especially top schools,” Justin said. 

Yet Justin never viewed his background as a weakness. Instead, he saw it as a source of strength. 

“I stand on the shoulders of the people who came before me,” he reflected. “Their resilience and determination are what shaped me.” 

That perspective carried him into one of the most personal parts of the application process: writing his essays. 

Late at night, when everyone in his household had gone to sleep, Justin began to write. In those quiet moments, he didn’t shy away from telling the full truth of his experiences. His personal statement was centered on his love for travel, structured like GPS directions where each “step” represented a pivotal moment in his life. 

“I was crying while writing it,” he recalled. “That’s how I knew it was the right essay.” 

He didn’t shy away from vulnerability. Growing up in an immigrant household meant witnessing sacrifice and struggle, as well as love and perseverance. Justin chose to tell the full story, balancing hardship with growth. 

“I am proud to be the product of my upbringing,” he said. 

When Justin was accepted to Columbia University on a full ride, it was not because he fit a narrow definition of perfection. He did not have flawless test scores or a transcript filled with fives on AP exams. Nonetheless, he had a story that reflected growth. 

Looking back, Justin wishes more students understood that college admissions are not about being perfect. They are about doing the best with what you are given. 

“If you’re challenging yourself within your own school and community, admissions officers see that,” he explained. “They understand not everyone has the same opportunities.” For Hispanic students navigating the process today, Justin’s advice is simple, yet powerful: apply anyway. 

“The worst thing someone can say is no,” he said. “Rejection is redirection.” 

He encourages students to seek out scholarships, programs, and opportunities, even when they feel unqualified. Justin highlights that many of the resources that changed his life weren’t handed to him; he had to search and advocate for himself. 

“You have to stand up for yourself,” he emphasized. “You belong wherever you want to go.” 

When asked what he’s most proud of, Justin does not point to Columbia’s name or prestige. Instead, he speaks about learning to choose himself and allowing himself to pursue opportunities beyond what feels safe. 

As someone who lacked role models growing up, Justin now hopes to be that example for others. He wants younger Hispanic students to see what is possible and to know that their stories matter. 

Justin’s journey is not just one of acceptance, but of finding a sense of belonging. It serves as a reminder that Hispanic students not only deserve a place in higher education, but they belong there.