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Home > Big Picture Schools > The B ig Picture College Emergency Fund > Spring 2007 Big Picture College Emergency Fund Scholars
CYNTHIA
R. BRELSFORD Class
Level: Junior 1. Who or what set you on the path to go to college? When I first started my 9th grade year at the Met Center, in Providence, my advisor Kristin Waugh-Hempel, at that time was the person who encouraged me to go to college. She once told me that I was the only one that could choose to become anything I wanted to be in life. Coming from a family that lived very poor in Peru and with my mother being the first person to finish high school, going to college was a huge step in life for me. 2. What challenges have you encountered in pursuing your education and what have you done to overcome them? I have two big encounters
in my life right now that have been hard to overcome, and I believe
that I am still in the process. I came to this country from Peru
ten years ago. I have struggled with the English language since
the first day that I arrived in this country. I’m still
in the process of learning the language and getting better at
it. Recently, 3. Why did you decide to pursue a college education? To become a better person and a role model for Latinos that have had the same or can connect the life I have had with their own in a cultural way and know that it is possible to go to college. As well as I’m a single mother of two beautiful babies and there should not be any obstacle for anyone to keep pursuing their goal in life. There is no limit to becoming someone in your life. It is all about believing in yourself. 4. What advice would you give to high school students applying to college? Life is full of bumps along the way, all you have to do is keep on going and learn from your experiences. ------------------------------------- Class Level:
Sophomore 1. Who or what set you on the path to college? Even tough my parents did not attend college, they always encouraged me to do better than them. Their strict rules and support is what I owe my wanting to go to college. 2. What challenges have you encountered in pursuing your education and what have you done to overcome them? Because I was not born in the U.S. there were many financial challenges that came across my path but with the help of wonderful mentors, college counselors, principal =) and advisors, I was able to find funds that made college a reality. 3. Why did you decide to pursue a college education? I decided to pursue a college education because I am tired of people having misperceptions of Mexican people as a whole and in particular Latinas. I want to be a role model for young Latinos that have lost or are losing hope of a bright future. 4. What advice would you give to high school students applying to college? To the students who are currently
applying to college I would say to really pay attention to what
type of student and what type of learner they are. Having assessed
that, I encourage you to pick schools in which the environment
and social life are comfortable enough that you know the only
barrier towards a successful college life will be you. Definitely
visit the campus before making a decision and talk to people there.
Hope this helps! ------------------------------------- Name: Jovonta
McGathon 1. Who or what set you on the path to college? I’ve also had big dreams of going to college and becoming successful. My mother is the person who really inspired me. She’s a woman who had been through many hardships in her life but overcame all obstacles. She’s the one who motivated me to move forward and don’t become like the people who I was surrounded by. Constantly she would tell me “don’t make the same mistakes I made.” I listened and that’s why I’m at the level of becoming successful and moving towards a positive future. 2. What challenges have you encountered in pursuing your education and what have you done to overcome them? I was faced with many challenges in my lifetime. The biggest challenge that I faced was overcoming peer pressure and becoming another statistic in my city. Each day of my life I could have drifted into something that wasn’t positive, but my determination kept me moving forward. I set goals for myself and created a plan for my life and if something wasn’t in that plan, I would avoid it. 3. Why did
you decide to pursue a college education? 4. What advice would you give to high school students applying to college? When stepping into college create a plan and stick to that plan. As in high school, there are many distractions in college that can drift you away from accomplishing your dreams; you just have to learn how to make good decisions. Good decision-making is very vital in school as well in life. Once one learns how to make good decisions they will get very far in life.
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