The purpose of this study is to identify factors that motivate English Learners to pursue a college education. Through connections with college graduates that came from abroad, I was able to understand the barriers that English Learners experience, and what motivated them to pursue a college career goal.?The study was conducted from an interpretive, qualitative approach using a narrative research design. The main focus of the study was directed at the motivation factors that influenced English Learners to seek a college education. The study allowed for a better understanding of how each participant felt about going through the process of enrolling in higher education and eventually acquiring a degree. This study provided an opportunity to identify the many barriers that English Learners face as they decide to pursue a college career. It became evident throughout the interviews that high school administrators, counselors and, in some cases, teachers had very low expectations for English Learners as they talked about their intentions to pursue a college career.?The findings reveal that high schools, colleges and universities may be lacking in terms of providing appropriate supports for English Learners. High school guidance counselors, in particular, may often have too many students to attend to, and spend most of their time dealing with discipline and scheduling. As a result, English Learners are put on the backburner of the system, and in many cases fall through the cracks and do not receive the attention needed in order to pursue their dream of obtaining a college education. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]