Transcript in hand, I gathered my composure to convince the school counselor at my new high school that I should be enrolled as an upperclassman. In Peru, I graduated high school as a straight-A student, but the school administration at my new high school in Virginia thought I should be placed in ninth grade. This was one of many instances in my journey to college in which others scrutinized my abilities and dedication. I’ve responded to these obstacles by believing in and advocating for myself.
Successfully enrolling as a junior marked a step in the right direction toward my dream of attending an American university. Still, I was without the information I needed to understand the higher education system. This information gap undercut all the energy I had ready to channel into school. Staff at my school couldn’t fathom that I didn’t know what the SAT was; they saw these gaps in my knowledge as signs that I wasn’t college-ready, despite my 4.2 GPA. When I asked one of my classmates about college, she told me that people with our immigration status couldn’t apply. That day, I went home and sobbed, fearful that my college dreams were over. Thankfully, my mom and I’s research convinced us that it could still be possible.
After graduating from my Virginia high school, I held onto my dream despite being unsure where it would take me. I worked over 60 hours a week that summer, trying to save whatever we could for tuition.
Everything changed when we found my local community college. I worked up the courage to walk into their admissions office on campus to ask about next steps after submitting my application online. The academic advisor who processed my application spent over two hours meeting with me and explaining to me how to navigate college and connected me with their Guaranteed Financial Aid program. From that first meeting, the faculty and student body at college uplifted me. I became immersed in the community, serving in the Student Government and as the Honor Society President.
It’s been a big adjustment, but I’m proud of myself for how I’ve navigated the transition to a four-year college and created space for myself as a woman in STEM. I think back on my younger self, and I’m so grateful to her for standing up for herself and her education. — G.A., Dream Scholar
Energized by the environment, I resumed planning for and dreaming about a four-year degree. I discovered the Dream Project during an internet research session, looking for scholarships that accept students with my immigration status. I had just missed the scholarship application deadline for 2022, but decided to still reach out to learn about other opportunities. Even though I had already graduated high school, Dr. Kennedy and Ms. Sanguinetti welcomed me into the mentoring program. My mentor, Mr. Zito, helped me apply for private scholarships; we still keep in touch today.
I had such high aspirations for university, but the doubts cast on my potential during high school made me second guess myself. I couldn’t decide whether to apply to my dream schools, specifically Georgetown University, on top of the colleges I had applied to via my community college’s guaranteed transfer program. The voice telling me to try finally won, and I frantically put my Georgetown application together on the last day of the application window. A few months later, I heard back: I was accepted at the University of Virginia and waitlisted at Georgetown. I was also fortunate enough to earn a Dream Project Scholarship for the upcoming school year. Everything was headed in the right direction; I was thrilled to be enrolling at UVA.
A month before the start of Fall semester 2023, while I was picking my housing assignment, I noticed that I was being charged out-of-state tuition rates. The weeks I spent waiting to enroll in high school in an effort to enroll in classes at my grade level were used to argue that I didn’t meet the in-state tuition requirement of two high school years in Virginia. The Dream Project rallied behind me, reaching out to the financial aid office and their connections at the university. Dr. Emma offered me support and solidarity, helping me navigate the months of uncertainty. Just like in high school, I waited. This time, I wasn’t only unwilling to accept an unfair placement; I was incapable of paying international tuition. I kept with my studies at community college, not knowing where my education journey would take me next. That fall, I heard back from Georgetown – I was accepted!
It’s now May 2024, and I’ve just finished my first semester at Georgetown, pursuing my B.S. in Computer Science. This summer, I’ll be working full-time as an analyst at a CivicTech research center in Washington, D.C. It’s been a big adjustment, but I’m proud of myself for how I’ve navigated the transition to a four-year college and created space for myself as a woman in STEM. I think back on my younger self, and I’m so grateful to her for standing up for herself and her education. The support of the Dream Project community, who reassured me that they saw my potential and that my dreams were not out of reach, means so much to me. I hope to be able to channel your kindness and pay it forward. As I step into this new chapter at Georgetown, I’m ready to keep taking chances on myself.
Help Make Student Dreams a Reality
Thanks to the strong support of our amazing community, this year, in addition to continuing our mentoring and support programs, the Dream Project was able to award renewable scholarships of $3,500 to 100 stellar scholars! Your kindness and generosity helped many students like Nataly realize their dreams. Thank YOU for making a difference!
