College was never an option growing up for Celeste Bleu, a first-generation Mexican American. It wasn’t that her parents didn’t support her, but rather they didn’t understand how to navigate the process or expect her to attend college, either.
The application and financial aid process was something she also didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t until she was 19 when she began working at Harris County Public Library about 13 years ago that she felt motivated to go to college. Today, Bleu serves as an assistant adult programs manager at Harris County Public Library, where she oversees a program that helps people like her navigate applying to college.
To help people prepare for college, Harris County Public Library launched the FutureU program, aimed to help students and adults determine their options for college and receive help with applications and financial aid. The program operates in all four precincts and was approved by the Commissioner’s Court earlier this year.
“This is for everybody that doesn’t have a pathway to the knowledge that they need to get to the life that they want,” Bleu said.
In the United States, 54 percent of undergraduate students identify as first-generation, according to FirstGen Forward. Many of these first-gen students don’t know how to navigate college because their parents didn’t attend.
FutureU is focused on helping families and individuals navigate Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and the Texas Application for State Financial Aid, or TASFA.
HCPL has various drop-in locations and events this fall for FAFSA, TASFA or general college readiness help. Check out the locations and events down below, or make an appointment here. Those interested in participating in FutureU do not need a library card to access these events.
Locations, events to attend for financial aid
Drop-In Help for College Readiness
Atascocita Branch Library
Time: 2:30-4 p.m.
Date: Aug. 8
Aldine Branch Library
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Date: Aug. 8
Galena Park Branch Library
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Date: Aug. 9
Katy Branch Library
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Date: Aug. 12
Kingwood Branch Library
Time: 1:30-4 p.m.
Date: Aug. 13
Crosby Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library
Time: 1:30-4 p.m.
Date: Aug. 14
Octavia Fields Branch Library
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Date: Aug. 16
Events
FAFSA Block Party
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Date: Aug. 10
Place: BakerRipley East Aldine Campus
FUTUREU: Financial Aid Night
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Date: Aug. 20
Place: Kingwood Branch Library
Get Started with ApplyTexas
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Aug. 22
Place: North Channel Branch Library
College Essay Prep
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Date: Aug. 28
Place: West University Branch Library
College Essay Prep
Time: 2-3 p.m.
Date: Sept. 7
Place: Maud Smith Marks Branch Library
College Essay Prep
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Date: Oct. 5
Place: Maud Smith Marks Branch Library
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