Twin brother cross country runners Andy and Erik Solano had to overcome a number of hurdles on the way to their PSU degrees.
 
The Reynolds High School graduates grew up in poverty and in an unsafe East Multnomah County neighborhood, said Andy Solano.
 
"I've lived in poverty basically my whole life and I know how much that takes away from any sort of opportunities in comparison to what other people have," said the fifth-year participant in the Viking cross country and track & field program, who will enter the highly competitive PSU mathematics doctoral program next fall. "The place where I've grown up isn't very safe, and violence is prevalent in the area. It's honestly a bit frightening at times just going out near the area, especially because there have been more shootings recently."
 
An older brother completed two years towards a biomedical physics degree at PSU but had to drop out because of finances. An electrician now, he's still hopeful of completing the degree, said Erik Solano.
 
"I see everyone around me struggle and I see it at home, as well. My mom (Maria Solano) is very hardworking and never complains, but I've seen her having to work a lot and worry about money a lot," said Andy, who added that he feels her struggle as well "because after a long day of school and running I had to help find a job and even come to her interviews to help her (she's consistently working at present)."
 
The Solanos' parents emigrated to the U.S. as teenagers and ended up in Oregon because of the weather and some relatives, although Erik said he likes hotter weather and wishes they'd landed in California or Arizona instead.
 
Their father, Saul Solano, was a construction worker for 25 years before being sidelined by a major injury. Since then, he has completed a machinist program at Clark Community College.
 
Circumstances kept both parents from completing their education after they emigrated, which led them to emphasize education to Andy and Erik when they were young.
 
"My dad was the one who really pushed me to go to college. He wanted to help as much as he could. Ultimately, though, it was my choice. I've always liked learning so even if education wasn't emphasized, I would still choose to go to college," Erik said.
 
Andy was a little more laid back about it…which is ironic since he's the one starting a PhD program.
 
"I was only expected to pass my classes and complete high school. I kind of put emphasis on my education myself because my mom comes from a rural part of Mexico where she didn't have access to education. She never had the opportunity to go to school," he said.
 
In high school, Andy remembered, he didn't know what a bachelor's degree was, let alone that there was something at the university level called a "major". With no specific goals in mind, he just decided to go to college.
 
"When I had to decide my major, I just picked math because I always really liked it and thought it was cool. I also ended up minoring in philosophy. As I went through the math major, I noticed that a lot of mathematicians were also philosophers, and that drew my interest," he said.
 
Both had done fairly well academically in high school, so they met the PSU admission standards and their economic status qualified them for Pell Grants and PSU's "Four Years Free" program, which covered tuition.
 
While both started playing soccer when they were young (and both say they miss playing it today), they settled on cross country by the time they were high school seniors and wanted to continue running in college. So, they contacted the PSU coaching staff early in their freshman year.
 
"They were solid district-level high school runners (six high school letters each in cross country and track & field). But, we were interested right away because we want to support and give local runners a chance whenever possible. They showed maturity, having already been admitted to school and secured academic scholarship opportunities, and they both displayed a real desire to work hard," said assistant track coach Josh Seitz.
 
They've been successful participants in the program competitively, setting several personal bests, but their main team contributions have been their effect on their teammates.
 
"They've grown tremendously and had a huge impact on this program. Their work ethic rubs off on their teammates and both have supported numerous teammates throughout the years," said Seitz.
 
Seitz recalled a post-season meeting where one teammate said "even though they weren't the loudest teammates in the locker room, they always seemed to be around and available to offer teammates support." But most of the admiration came because "they lived in west Gresham, took max into campus six days a week for practice and school, maintained a high GPA and never complained."
 
Financially, they couldn't afford to live on campus. That meant an hour-long commute each way, which wasn't easy.
 
"Commuting…to PSU every day for practice and classes was honestly the biggest challenge for me," said Andy. "I didn't miss any classes even when I would take MAX early in the morning to show up for early morning practices and come home late at night from meets. I just got used to it as part of my daily routine."
 
And, he admitted that he's a "heavy procrastinator. So, I would use my time on MAX to finish last-minute homework assignments or study for a test. It all worked out in the end, but it was challenging."
 
Erik changed majors several times and will graduate in applied math. I think the reason I kept switching majors was I wanted to know more about other majors…currently, I'm looking for data science internships or jobs."
 
Andy isn't sure what he'll do with his doctorate, but is also exploring something in applied math. He was especially pleased to be admitted to the PSU doctoral program because "it's very competitive and there are only a handful of spots available." His doctorate will be paid for "by a hefty scholarship. I didn't apply for it myself. One of my math professors applied for me without my knowledge, and I think only a handful of people receive that scholarship in the state." And, he'll earn a stipend as a graduate teaching assistant.
 
But, just earning a bachelor's degree has been a big deal to them. Like a lot of PSU alums, the pair were the first in their family to graduate from a university.
 
"I was very grateful to have had the opportunity to complete my bachelor's. It really means a lot to me especially because no one in my family has ever completed a bachelor's. I come from an area where a lot of kids come from rough backgrounds similar to mine and I have worked as a math tutor for several years at a local elementary school. I hope I have shown them that it is possible to earn a college degree, even if it is a little daunting," said Andy.
 
Erik described his degree as "a big accomplishment for me", but said he felt it meant even more to his parents. "My mom was only able to be in school until she was 12. My dad left (Mexico) at 17 and knew education was the gateway to success," he said.
 
It wasn't all roses along the way, especially for Andy, who hit a depression period during his junior year. 
 
"It was hard for me to even sleep or eat right, and remote learning (during PSU's Covid-related campus closure) made things worse." During that time, he earned his first "B" in a math class and even failed a course. "I was able to get the help I needed, and I was finally doing better academically and found my way to being a more consistent runner. I was happy to have a coach who cared about me and my mental health," he said. 
 
Both leave the track program reluctantly, having used up their eligibility, including a fifth year that was allowed because of Covid restrictions.
 
"What I enjoyed most was being on the team and watching it grow. I grew closer to my teammates and I'll miss being with them on a daily basis," said Andy.
 
Erik enjoyed his time at PSU and credited an advisor with helping him balance school and athletics…and with finally choosing a major. He liked that the school is located downtown and that he had coaches "that cared about me as an athlete and as a person. They are also not always serious and can crack a joke with me. I see them more as mentors, who make me a better runner and a better person."
 
Coach Seitz said he has enjoyed watching them develop as runners. But mostly, he said, he's enjoyed "how confident they've become. Both were pretty timid and didn't put themselves out there socially early on. Now, they are constantly cracking jokes with teammates during warm-ups, offering their opinions when needed and just carrying themselves with more confidence inside and outside of sports."
 
And, for two kids from a rough (by Portland standards) neighborhood, it's been quite a journey.