WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

Part Two: When Our Children Are Brilliant—But Barred from the Future

By Crystal Negron

Let me tell you something about our kids. They are not the problem. They are the solution. They are first-generation, bilingual, brilliant dreamers navigating two worlds at once.

And yet, the opportunities promised to them? Delayed. Diminished. Denied.

The economic pain we feel as parents doesn’t stop with us. It bleeds into the future of our children, and it shows up loudest in one place: education.

Let’s talk facts. Nationally, just 23% of Hispanic adults aged 25–29 hold a bachelor’s degree—the lowest rate of any racial or ethnic group.

It’s not because we don’t value education. It’s because the system doesn’t make room for us to succeed.

In Central Florida, the story plays out the same. High school graduation rates have improved—sure. But what happens after graduation? Too many of our kids never make it to college, and the ones who do often drown in debt or drop out due to a lack of resources and support.

Programs like Bright Futures, once a lifeline for low-income and minority students, have become harder to access.

Test score thresholds were raised, favoring students in wealthier districts with access to tutoring and prep programs.

Many Latino students attend underfunded schools that don’t offer the same level of college counseling or scholarship guidance.

That’s not equality. That’s engineered exclusion.

And let me be clear—it’s not just test scores and tuition. It’s systemic silence.

Ask a teenager in Poinciana how to apply for FAFSA. Ask a student in BVL how to navigate the SAT system. Ask a first-gen college hopeful where to find grants. Too often, they don’t know. Not because they’re lazy. Not because they’re apathetic. But because no one bothered to tell them.

I’ve met families where college applications are handled alone at kitchen tables, under low light, while parents come home from 12-hour shifts and try to translate financial aid forms in a second language.

We talk about the “American Dream,” but we don’t ask why it’s always out of reach for the people keeping this country running.

This is the part that should break you.

Because when a child with a 4.0 GPA can’t afford a state school…

When a scholarship-worthy student doesn’t qualify because their school didn’t offer the right honors courses…

When we lose yet another generation to underemployment, poverty, or low-wage jobs…

That’s when you should ask: Where is the outrage?

It’s time we stop celebrating survival. Survival is not justice. Our kids deserve more than dreams—they deserve systems built for their success.

And if we don’t use our voices to fight for them now, we’re not just failing as parents.

We’re failing as a people.

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Crystal Negron is a name synonymous with dedication and grassroots advocacy in our community. With a career spanning over 15 years, she has consistently channeled her expertise toward uplifting others. Her journey includes a significant seven-year tenure at ELITE Metro Corp., where she rose to National Market Support Specialist, a role that saw her crisscrossing the nation to analyze markets, train teams, and implement winning operational strategies.

Today, as the founder of Crystal Oasis & Co., she leverages this powerful background in market analysis and team development to offer premier events and marketing consulting. A battle-tested campaign manager, Crystal has guided political candidates with impactful, data-informed strategies. Her work is driven by a core belief in community, a goal-oriented mindset, and an unwavering commitment to generating positive, measurable results.