12/19/2025
Affording and accessing college as a transgender woman presents challenges that are both financial and systemic. Like many transgender individuals, my educational journey has not followed a traditional path. For several years, my ability to pursue higher education was delayed by instability related to untreated substance use disorder, mental health challenges, and the absence of affirming support systems. During this period, my primary focus was survival rather than long-term academic or professional goals. Additionally, a lack of understanding and sensitivity surrounding my gender identity often made educational environments feel inaccessible or unsafe, further limiting my ability to engage fully in academic pursuits earlier in my recovery.
Today, I am stable in recovery and fully committed to my education, yet financial barriers remain a significant concern. I work full-time while attending school, but my income must support more than my own basic needs. I am the legal guardian of my teenage brother This responsibility require careful financial planning and leave little room for flexibility. Covering tuition, textbooks, and academic fees alongside household expenses creates ongoing financial strain, particularly when unexpected costs arise.
Balancing employment, coursework, and caregiving responsibilities can be physically and emotionally demanding, and at times impacts my capacity for rest and self-care. Despite these challenges, I remain determined to succeed academically and to build a stable future for both myself and my brother.
By Elger Gonzalez:
Access-related barriers also persist within higher education systems. Although institutions have made strides toward inclusion, transgender students often encounter administrative obstacles. Navigating inconsistencies related to name and gender markers across academic records, financial aid systems, and healthcare documentation can be time-consuming and emotionally taxing. These processes frequently require repeated self-advocacy and disclosure, placing an additional burden on transgender students. The time and energy spent addressing these barriers detracts from academic focus, family responsibilities, and personal well-being, further complicating the pursuit of higher education.
We all face struggles in life—whether related to gender markers, race, age, or countless other factors. My intention with this post is simply to echo something my friend Maddison says often: “The trans experience is the human experience.”
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