Student Profile: Cesar Bueno
Hometown: Salem, OR
Institution: Linfield College
Major: Exercise Science
Year: Sophomore
Cesar Bueno has sacrificed a considerable amount to finance his college education. Whether it be long, labor-intensive summers working at a local cannery or juggling multiple jobs during the school year he has always extended his maximum effort to cover as much of his college expenses on his own. Despite his personal contribution to the costs of college, finances have still been a struggle for him and his family.
In addition to working on a degree in exercise science Cesar is also involved in campus leadership and activities. He is a resident assistant and a mentor for a Latino support group on campus. He also participates in Linfield’s Spanish club and soccer club.
Cesar is a MESA participant this year, which has alleviated some of the financial stress he faces. When asked about MESA, he said, “Knowing that my savings from the summer will be multiplied is a big relief for the coming years.”
“I firmly believe that no matter the amount of support given to a student, they will always appreciate it, because in life rarely do people help one another when they do not know each other very well. The MESA program has been a great program for me, I tend not to ask my parents for money because I know that they do not have much to spare; and that’s where the MESA program comes in because it help alleviate the stress of where I’m going to get the money that I still owe.”