Success Starts Here--How We Got to College and What Made Us Stay: A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Latino Males' Persistence in Obtaining Their Bachelor's Degree

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the factors that led to the successes of Latino males' persistence in obtaining their bachelor's degree. Through the lens of participants' lived experiences, first-generation Latino males unpack their experiences and describe how those experiences impacted their academic achievement to graduate with their bachelor's degree. Participants' stories illuminated Latino males' resiliency to persist without dropping out when facing adversity in both their academic and home environments. The results of this study indicated the necessity for both K-12 and four-year institutions to examine Latino males' educational experiences and how family, sense of purpose, school environments, and academic and social supports are integral to their success in obtaining a bachelor's degree. Moreover, this study strongly suggests that four-year institutions need to fully recognize and evaluate the programs and practices that may be causing Latino males to drop out without obtaining a bachelor's degree and, in turn, increase Latino male postsecondary bachelor's degree attainment and close the equity achievement gap. The future of the nation's Latino male students depends on it! [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]