Some teenagers are more worried about buying the new hot item out there in the market, where I just worry about the price and thinking about how long this item would last me. As I grew up I had no idea how expensive electronics and or items were, as a seven year old little girl I would beg and beg for a laptop not knowing how much it would affect my family’s economic situation. Sooner or later, my parents were able to save up the money to buy one, thinking it would be the same speed and quality it was when they bought it but little did I know … [Read more...]

Although I have Mexican blood in me, I am the first of my family members to have been born in the United States. I come from a very hard working family; unfortunately they did not receive a higher level education due to economic problems when they lived in Mexico. Ever since my father came to the U.S. he has worked in several jobs such as construction, while my mother has worked in department stores and currently works at a daycare. These jobs may not pay as well as other professions, yet my family always tries to supply me with the necessary … [Read more...]

My name is Mkongwa. When my family of nine fled the Congo, we lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania. It was then that I would imagine myself wearing a cap and gown and graduating from College so that everyone I know would be proud of me. Now, as I am starting my second year of High School, I am wondering how I will continue with my education and pursue that degree with my current financial situation. I believe education is the key foundation of life. Unfortunately, this education comes with a very steep price and I do not want to be another … [Read more...]

Hi, I'm Miranda. To tell you a bit about myself, I'll have you know I'm a nerd. Yes, I think school is fun and I've always been one to excel in academics. I've been blessed with an aptitude for math, but my true passion lies in the arts. These may seem contradictory to some, but that's why I've decided to pursue architecture, a career that would, in mind, be a perfect blend of a methodic calculating mind and my creative spirit. I come from a low-income family where I live with my older sister, dad and mom, who is deaf. My mom's deafness has … [Read more...]

Who am I? My name is Isabella and I am 18 years old. I just graduated 12th grade from High Tech High Chula Vista and I am the daughter of a single mother and the sister of a 20-year-old brother who attends Community College. I am a Mexican American who is proud of her culture. I am the 14th grandchild in a big family. I am independent, a little headstrong and at times can be dramatic, but I am very determined to make my dreams come true. Speaking of dreams, one is almost in reach. I was accepted into an amazing college, Richmond, the … [Read more...]

I am Honduran. My guerita hair and white skin leads people to believe I am a privileged, white individual. The shame that is flushed under my cheeks as I swipe the family food stamp card says otherwise. My mother has a gambling addiction that resulted from the death of her mom and suicide of her husband. My childhood consisted of sleep deprivation, tiredness, hopelessness, house infestations, insecurities, crowded rooms, different schools, eviction after eviction, prayers, and an experience that would open my eyes to the world. … [Read more...]

Every so often we receive an application from a teenager who has a time sensitive need and this is one of those times!  Please read about this amazing young women and her goal of attending a prestigious Engineering camp this summer in Europe.   Hi, my name is Hayat.  I am interested in different cultures, languages, and ethnicities. My father was born and raised in Iran by my Arab grandparents, whereas my mother is full Mexican. Then there is me,  a Roman Catholic Mexican with an exotic ethnical background. Spanish is my first language, … [Read more...]

In my life many obstacles have been presented. Facing these obstacles has been really hard; I am on the road to facing one of the biggest obstacles I’ll ever have in my life. I am a Hispanic 16 year old girl living in San Diego; I am a sophomore in high school. The Preuss School UCSD, the school I attend, is designed for low-income students who want to achieve great things through hard work. Hispanics aren’t given high expectations to reach up to. It has been presented to us that the wealthy, are the people who become important and reach their … [Read more...]

I traced my finger across the variable assignments, the conditional loops, and the swaps in the Quicksort algorithm. It was Wednesday night, but I was more interested in this problem more than my schoolwork.  I love the explorative nature of self-learning: every concept I learn diverges into exponentially more problems to explore, like a binary tree, and I appreciate the effort of the scholars from universities and professions all across the planet who contribute to humanity’s collective knowledge through the Web. I smile whimsically when I … [Read more...]

Being a junior in high school isn’t as easy as it sounds. This is the year we’re expected to study hard and come out on top if we want to get accepted into a good college; however, it’s also the year where we juniors are faced with rigorous tests such as the SAT and ACT, and also the Advanced Placement tests. Fortunately, I qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, so I have my test fees waived off, but fee waivers won’t always be my financial cushion. As I progress through high school, I will need more funds to be able to take more tests … [Read more...]