Y-Scholars Program Graduation Yearbook 2014

PURSUE YOUR PASSION

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS FOR CLASS OF 2014 Arizona State University

Berkeley City College

Cal Poly Pomona

Chico State University

CSU East Bay

CSU Long Beach

Diablo Valley College

Howard University

Laney College

Sacramento State University

Saint Mary’s College

San Diego State University

San Francisco State University

San Jose State University

UC Berkeley

UC Davis

UC Merced

UC Riverside

UC Santa Cruz

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Aimee Gonzalez-Perez Alexis Hernandez Alfonso Alonso-Franco Amanda Medina Amri Gray Anneke Lau Arielle Rogers Barbara Ibarra Brenda Vasquez Briana Thompson Chris Henderson Daniel Hernandez-Deras Danilo Eckhardt de Camargo Dominic Ky Dominick Martinez Evangelina Sanchez Jimmy Fuentes Juan Bermudez

Maria de la Cruz Camacho Benitez Merewan Jemal Nora Jang Palden Jamyang Priyanka Jindal Raejean Hightower Rhea Segismundo Rikki Brown Ruth Lama Saisunil Garlapati Silvia Xie Siva Gogulamudi Tehan Ketema Teresita Mendoza-Garcia Vivian Nguyen Yacine Rouabah Yesenia Shultz

2014 Y-SCHOLARS PROGRAM GRADUATES

PROGRAM LEAD STAFF Audi Huang Cecilia Liang José Herrera Cruz Katie Swidarski Tia Cabral

PROGRAM COUNSELORS Abel Castillo Ashley Kimura Chelsea Tuomi Devan McFadden Gabriela Robledo Karla Garcia Kassie Pham LeAnna Harrison Neda Chavoshi Sabrina Gonzalez Sierra Hampton Stefany Espana Thalia Soto Veronica Munguia-Guizar

PROGRAM TUTORS Ameil Kenkare Aslan Brown Celeste Zamora Chadwick Casper Gary Guth Ismael Tapia Joel Fox Joncarlo Putman Justin Bauzon Kathryn Boden Maria Salinas Matthew Ramirez Reissa Noriega Riley O’Brien Tania Garcia-Pina

“Ever since I met Aimee, I

knew that she was focused

and certain of her college and

career goals. Aimee is most

definitely an independent

worker and a self-starter. I

admire her passion for playing

music and her ability to teach

music to other students. Her

determination will help her

succeed in anything she

chooses to do.”

Thalia Soto

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying psychology at CSU East Bay

AIMEE IN 10 YEARS... Becoming a marriage and family therapist and traveling to Italy to experience the culture 

“I have worked with Alexis for

a year now and have seen him

grow into such a mature adult.

He always comes into the

office with a smile and is

caring towards all of his peers.

Alexis is a talented student

with a deep interest in

environment issues and

photography. I have no doubt

he will accomplish anything he

sets his mind to do!”

Neda Chavoshi

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying psychology at Berkeley City College

ALEXIS IN 10 YEARS... Working as an environmental activist within the community and having a family of my own 

Alexis Hernandez

Aimee Gonzalez-Perez

“Alfonso has such an amazing

attitude about his life, and I

love the positivity that he

brings to Y-Scholars! He

somehow always finds a way

to make me and the other

counselors laugh. Alfonso’s

dedication to soccer and his

passion for continuing his

higher education is inspiring,

and I am confident that he will

do amazing things in life.”

Gabriela Robledo

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying civil engineering at San Diego State University

ALFONSO IN 10 YEARS... Traveling the world and learning about new cultures 

“Since our first meeting I knew

Amanda was a self-motivated

student. Amanda takes on her

academic goals and pushes

herself to achieve in every

aspect of her life. Though she

just joined the Y-Scholars

Program this year, it did not

take long for me to see that

Amanda embodies the CLASP

qualities that our program

develops in students.”

Sabrina Gonzalez

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Heading off to study at UC Davis

AMANDA IN 10 YEARS... Having a successful job and traveling to many places including Miami and Italy 

Alfonso Alonso

Amanda Medina

“Amri is a dedicated student

with a love for literature and

science; whenever she is not

reading or writing you can find

her performing research. I

truly admire her self-discipline

and dedication to not only her

challenging coursework but

also her extracurricular

activities. She can be quiet but

she has a fierce personality

and a charismatic smile.”

Stefany Espana

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying biotechnology and writing at UC Merced

AMRI IN 10 YEARS... Working at Genentech and writing my own book of short stories 

“Anneke is an amazing young

woman who demonstrates

strong work ethics and

responsibility. She balances

school and work successfully,

and she does it with grace and

optimism! It is wonderful to

see her accomplishing all that

she has set out to do because

I know that there are fantastic

opportunities waiting for her

out there!”

Karla Garcia

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying health education at SF State University

ANNEKE IN 10 YEARS... Completing grad school, being a health educator in a public school, and living in the city with 2 dogs 

Anneke Lau

Amri Gray

“Arielle is a Y-Scholar Lifer as

she will be graduating with the

program after dedicating 4

years with us. This year, I have

seen great improvements in her

attitude as well as her

commitment level. I am very

proud to have had the

opportunity to work closely

with Arielle this year, and I

have no doubt she will find

college success.”

Neda Chavoshi

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Heading off to study at Diablo Valley College

ARIELLE IN 10 YEARS... Working as a nurse in a hospital and helping to save many people’s lives 

“Barbara always has a smile on

her face, an upbeat attitude,

and creative ideas to share.

Barbara is a super dedicated

Frozen enthusiast and can sing

a verse from any Frozen song

on the spot. Furthermore, she

is a part-time princess and

karate master. She easily wins

over the hearts of the

Y-Scholars community and

anyone else she meets.”

Chelsea Tuomi

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying environmental science at Saint Mary’s College

BARBARA IN 10 YEARS... Teaching environmental science, becoming a princess, and starring in the Broadway version of Frozen 

Barbara Ibarra

Arielle Rogers

“When I first met Brenda, I

could immediately tell that she

was a very headstrong and

straight-forward kind of

individual. However, I came to

realize that her self-motivated

qualities come from her

passion and ability to be

proactive. Her drive will help

her be successful in any

atmosphere that challenges

one’s abilities.”

Veronica Munguia-Guizar

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying psychology or legal studies at CSU Long Beach

BRENDA IN 10 YEARS... Obtaining my masters degree and having a stable career as a psychologist 

“I have seen Briana grow from

a student who appears timid

at first to someone who is

always ready to take on more

responsibilities and be more

involved in Y-Scholars. As a

result, her confidence has

flourished. One of Briana’s

most striking characteristics is

her ability to maintain a

positive attitude even under

intense pressure.”

Veronica Munguia-Guizar

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying nursing at Arizona State University

BRIANA IN 10 YEARS... Working as a neonatal nurse practitioner and keeping newborns healthy and strong 

Brenda Vasquez

Briana Thompson

“Chris is a hardworking and

resilient individual. Over the

course of the year, Chris

always maintained a positive

and open-minded attitude.

Thus, he is very sociable, and

his peers find him easy to

approach. I have watched him

develop his future goals, and I

am very excited to see him

succeed and thrive in a college

environment.”

Neda Chavoshi

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying business or international relations at Chico State University

CHRIS IN 10 YEARS... Driving a Mercedes with diplomat plates on the back 

“Daniel is not only bright but

has a great sense of humor!

He is always cracking jokes

and almost never fails to make

me laugh obnoxiously loud.

However, he does have that

serious side when it comes to

meeting deadlines and getting

his work done. Daniel is a

well-rounded student who is

destined to reach his goal of

running his own business.”

Ashley Kimura

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying computer science at UC Santa Cruz

DANIEL IN 10 YEARS... Leading an IT team and preparing a career managing a computer repair company 

Daniel Hernandez-Deras

Chris Henderson

“Danilo is a down-to-earth

type of person. During our

weekly conversations and

meetings, I could tell that he

has a mature attitude towards

his life. He never lets his

struggles bring him down and

affect his overall mood. He

allows the troubles of today to

be the lessons for tomorrow.

That kind of understanding is

a rare gift to have.”

Devan McFadden

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying music and business at Laney College

DANILO IN 10 YEARS... Chilling in the Bay Area, having fun, and receiving much love and support for my music 

 

“When I think what an ideal

Y-Scholar does, Dominic

comes to mind. Over the past

three years, I have seen

nothing but amazing growth

from him. He has become a

great public speaker and

leader by being part of the

Academic Leadership Team.

Dominic has trained and

prepared for his journey going

into higher education!”

Abel Castillo

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying biotechnology at Cal Poly Pomona

DOMINIC IN 10 YEARS... Heading a biotech company, researching cures for diseases, and driving a new car, preferably a Camaro 

Dominic Ky

Danilo Eckhardt de Camargo

“Dominick is a student who

was wonderful to work with

since the very beginning.

Despite being new to the

program this year, he jumped

right in as if he had always

been here. Something I admire

about Dominick is that he is

very approachable and is not

afraid to put himself out

there; he embodies what it

means to be a Y-Scholar.”

Veronica Munguia-Guizar

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Heading off to study at Berkeley City College

DOMINICK IN 10 YEARS... Having an exciting and rewarding career that I enjoy 

“Eva’s passion for pursuing

higher education and

overcoming life’s challenges

are qualities I admire about

her. The way she dedicates

herself to her commitments

clearly illustrates that she

seeks success but also wants

to make a difference in

people’s lives. Look out for Eva

in the near future because she

is coming your way!”

Karla Garcia

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying ethnic studies at CSU East Bay

EVANGELINA IN 10 YEARS... Working with at-risk youth at a school as a counselor and helping people in marginalized communities 

Dominick Martinez

Evangelina Sanchez

“Jimmy is a dedicated and

outspoken individual, and he is

certainly not afraid to let

others know that! Donning

sunglasses rain or shine,

outside or inside, Jimmy is

immediately recognizable and

distinct. And yet, I have found

this Y-Scholar Lifer to be one

caring and bright individual

who is always curious about

the world.”

Ashley Kimura

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying communications at CSU East Bay

JIMMY IN 10 YEARS... Working as a full-time investigative journalist in either Mexico or Spain 

“Juan is a driven young man,

and his thirst for knowledge is

seen through his resiliency as

he faces adversity. He has

developed into a leader and

advocate for his peers through

various leadership roles. A true

role model, Juan is the first

one from his family to attend

college and takes this

barrier-breaking responsibility

very seriously.”

Stefany Espana

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying civil engineering at San Jose State University

JUAN IN 10 YEARS... Improving the infrastructures of the world by making transportation systems more efficient 

Juan Bermudez

Jimmy Fuentes

“Maria is a highly motivated

and extremely hardworking

student. She is always in a

good mood and ready to learn.

Though she had faced a lot of

obstacles in her life, she

always managed to overcome

them. I am very glad to have

worked with her this year, and

I know that she will achieve

anything that she sets her

mind to.”

Thalia Soto

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying psychology at Berkeley City College

MARIA IN 10 YEARS... Working with people on their challenges, living with my family in a new house, and driving a shiny new car 

“Merewan is the epitome of

diligence. I look up to him for

all he has overcome while

keeping a positive attitude on

life. This young man is one of

the most respectful and

humble beings that I know.

His love for learning and

helping his community will

ensure that he achieves all

that he sets out to do during

his college journey!”

Karla Garcia

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying physical therapy at SF State University

MEREWAN IN 10 YEARS... Being a physical therapist in Dubai or in the Bay Area while helping children and athletes in my community 

Maria de la Cruz Camacho Benitez

Merewan Jemal

“I absolutely loved having Nora

as a student! She embodies

every part of CLASP, and she

is one of the most responsible,

caring, and passionate

students I have had the

pleasure of working with. It is

incredible how she is able to

balance advanced classes with

her activities, and I have no

doubt she will have an amazing

college career.”

Gabriela Robledo

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying environmental science at UC Davis

NORA IN 10 YEARS... Diving off a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to explore and observe life’s hidden miracles  

“Students look up to Palden

for wisdom to share about

school, life, and nutrition. He

has transformed over his 4

years in YSP to become the

health-conscious and

charismatic student he is

today. Always a hilarious and

self-reflective person, Palden

consistently challenges

himself to reach new heights

and lift more weights!”

Chelsea Tuomi

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying computer science at Sac State University

PALDEN IN 10 YEARS... Being a personal trainer and computer scientist, owning a motorcycle, and maybe having a girlfriend 

Nora Jang

Palden Jamyang

“Priyanka has been a part of

the Y-Scholars Program since

freshman year, and I have seen

Priyanka develop as a student

and leader. On top of being

self-motivated and commited,

she is a compassionate person

who has an amazing attitude

about everything. She will be a

fantastic college student and

become an excellent nurse in

the near future!”

Sabrina Gonzalez

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying nursing at San Francisco State University

PRIYANKA IN 10 YEARS... Working at UCSF while married to Zac Efron and volunteering at a clinic that provides free health care 

“Since 9th grade, Raejean has

committed to academics and

self-improvement. She sets

high expectations both in the

classroom and on the

basketball court. Raejean

reaches her goals through

determination and hard work.

With her contributions to

sports medicine, Stephen

Curry and the Warriors will no

doubt be in good hands!”

Chelsea Tuomi

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying physical therapy at Berkeley City College

RAEJEAN IN 10 YEARS... Practicing sports medicine and working with athletes

Priyanka Jindal

Raejean Hightower

“Rhea is passionate about

serving her community and is

committed to helping others.

Throughout high school, this

awesome student has engaged

in public and community

service through various

programs and clubs. If you

ever need cheering up, Rhea is

your go-to person because her

warmth and compassion will

brighten up your day!”

Kassie Pham

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying education and psych at SF State University

RHEA IN 10 YEARS... Being happy, working as a teacher, and having my own cool apartment with a music room 

“Rikki really fought hard this

year to stick with us despite

encountering challenges.

Though a lot of things were

uncertain for her, she chose to

put staying in the program as

high priority for her. She

showed that she believes YSP

is something that is worth the

effort. I truly loved the many

times we've spent joking

around about things.”

Sierra Hampton

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying political science at Howard University

RIKKI IN 10 YEARS... Working an awesome job and taking care of my super cute baby 

Rhea Segismundo

Rikki Brown

“Ruth has shown amazing

strength throughout the

program and has learned to

navigate her way around to

success. Over the past 4 years,

she has been an enthusiastic

member of our community,

creating lasting friendships

and mentorship. Her

knowledge of utilizing her

resources will be the key to

her future achievements.”

LeAnna Harrison

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying biology at San Francisco State University

RUTH IN 10 YEARS... Working as a pharmacist at a hospital and offering helpful consultations to people 

“Sai is such a resilient, caring,

and intelligent young man.

When dealing with life’s

difficult challenges, he always

approaches them with a

head-strong attitude, ready to

conquer any of his struggles.

He sought out assistance

whenever needed and did not

let anything stop him from

accomplishing his academic

and life goals.”

Devan McFadden

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying astronomy at Berkeley City College

SAISUNIL IN 10 YEARS... Pursuing a PhD in Astrophysics and proving that there are indeed aliens on Earth 

Ruth Lama

Saisunil Garlapati

“Silvia is an incredibly driven

individual who is dedicated to

finding success and meeting

her goals. This young woman

has overcome a lot of

obstacles to stay exceptional

but still manages to bring a

smile to our weekly meetings.

She is my favorite person to

share cookies with at the Teen

Center and has become quite a

good friend!”

Sierra Hampton

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying chemistry at UC Berkeley

SILVIA IN 10 YEARS... Eating chips (because they are yummy) while pursuing my masters degree in chemistry 

“Siva has shown tremendous

leadership through the years,

both in her personal and

academic life. She has blazed

her own path to success while

striving to be an ideal

Y-Scholar. Her passion for

service to her communities, her

knack for leadership, and her

continuous academic progress

are ideal for her future career

in medicine.”

LeAnna Harrison

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying biology and doing pre-med at UC Riverside

SIVA IN 10 YEARS... Working as a doctor or doing fellowship trainings for a specialty in medicine 

Silvia Xie

Siva Gogulamudi

“Tehan is a bright and kind

spirit who is a committed

member of the Y-Scholars

community. She has worked

diligently over the years to

ensure a path to higher

education that best suited her

personal aspirations. There is

no doubt in my mind that she

will contribute to the world

and be successful in anything

she sets out to do.”

LeAnna Harrison

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Going out to University of Wisconsin-Madison

TEHAN IN 10 YEARS... Enjoying a career that positively affects the world and allows me to travel and give back to my community 

“Teresita is a hardworking

student who knows how to

handle many commitments at

once. She knows how to not

stress under the busiest

circumstances. This strong

student has faced numerous

obstacles and instead of

giving up, Teresita looks for

ways to overcome them. I have

no doubt that Teresita will

achieve her goals.”

Thalia Soto

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying nursing at CSU East Bay

TERESITA IN 10 YEARS... Being a nurse at a hospital and driving a brand new pink Volkswagon Beetle 

Tehan Ketema

Teresita Mendoza-Garcia

“Vivian often comes across as

a shy student. Yet, the young

lady possesses extraordinary

drive and passion for helping

others. She is one of the most

resilient people I know.

Vivian’s family and experiences

are not only her motivation to

succeed. They also keep her

grounded and show her why

she is passionate about

helping others.”

Kassie Pham

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying biology or public health at UC Berkeley

VIVIAN IN 10 YEARS... Volunteering for Peace Corps and traveling around the world to places like South Korea and Costa Rica  

“Yacine is a bit shy when you

first meet him. But, get to

know him more and he will tell

you about his amazing journey

from Algeria to the United

States. In fact, he was a TV

star in Algeria, and that part

of his personality really shines

in the program. He has a great

sense of humor that connects

him to people and possesses

dedication to his academics.”

Ashley Kimura

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying computer science at Berkeley City College

YACINE IN 10 YEARS... Building computer software and doing web design while living in Dubai 

Vivian Nguyen

Yacine Rouabah

“Yesenia is a sweet young lady

driven by her passion to help

others. Although she may seem

like a shy and quiet individual,

her bubbly personality really

comes out once you start

talking to her. She is a natural

leader in that I frequently see

her advising younger students

in the Y-Scholars Program on

ways to get more involved

during their free time.”

Stefany Espana

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR… Studying marine biology at UC Santa Cruz

YESENIA IN 10 YEARS... Teaching environmental science to high school students and living in a house with a swimming pool 

Yesenia Shultz

Y-SCHOLAR LIFER HONOREES

A “Y-Scholar Lifer” is a student graduating

the program after a 4-year commitment.

Arielle Rogers Raejean Hightower 

Dominic Ky  Ruth Lama 

Evangelina Sanchez  Saisunil Garlapati 

Jimmy Fuentes  Tehan Ketema 

Juan Bermudez  Vivian Nguyen 

Palden Jamyang   

MOVING A STEP FORWARD

TAKING A LOOK BACK

Barbara Ibarra

Q: If you won the lottery,

what would be the first

thing you would buy?

A: A castle where I can be

the princess.

Rhea Segismundo

Q: If you only had 24

hours to live, what

would you do?

A: I would walk the

Sydney bridge.

Jimmy Fuentes

Q: If you could sum up

Y-Scholars in 5 words or

less, what would it be?

A: When in doubt, ask Audi.

Juan Bermudez

Q: If you could sing one

song on American Idol,

what would it be?

A: “Happy” because I feel

this way most of the

time.

Nora Jang 

Q: If you were a superhero,

what would your catch

phrase be?

A: “Stewards of the Sea

Smackdown!” 

Priyanka Jindal

Q: Which movie would

best depict your life

story and why?

A: “Fast & Furious”

because that’s how I do

my homework so I could

watch TV after.”

FINDING MY COMMUNITY By Barbara Ibarra

During my freshmen, sophomore, and junior year, I was

alone with no one to really help me through the difficult

challenges of high school. I have been part of the Berkeley

International High School, which is an International

Baccalaureate (IB) school, since 9th grade. For me, being in IB

was not easy at all. In most of my classes, I was one of the

few students who identified as being Hispanic. Although this

might not seem like a big deal to others, it was a big deal for

me. Being a minority in my classes made me feel intimidated. I

thought the other students were smarter than me, and that if I

said something, it would most likely be wrong. I often debated throughout the year whether I wanted to

switch into the small schools. However, I did not want to seem like a quitter. If I could not handle IB,

how would I face other difficult situations in my future?

I decided that I had to stay in IB and prove to myself that I could rise above difficult situations.

However, my classes began to get more challenging, and the more difficult they became, the more I

began to stress. As a first-generation college-bound student, my family members were not able to help

me much, and it was hard to seek help at such a big school. I found myself going to the College and

Career Center for assistance. Unfortunately, sometimes it took half an hour of waiting to receive help

on a math problem that was explained in five minutes.

All that changed when I found out about the Y-Scholars Program. This past summer, my brother

decided to join Y-Scholars. He had his family interview, and when he came back he told me that they

were looking for new seniors to join. Although I qualified to be a Y-Scholar, I was not quite sure if I was

interested in joining the program. After all, it was my senior year, and I wanted to have fun after school.

However, I figured I could give it a try and check out what exactly they had to offer. During the

interview, Jose told me, “If it doesn’t hurt you, it can only help you.” Those words stayed with me after

the interview. In fact, everything discussed during the interview just made sense and got me thinking

ahead. As much as I wanted to have fun this year, I knew I needed the structure and support to remain

focused. For some reason, after my interview with Jose and Abel, the first people I ever met at Y-

Scholars, I felt the urge to join. Little did I know that the program would end up being more than just

tutoring and college assistance for me.

Since I did not know anyone in this program, I decided to recruit my friends Amanda and

Yesenia so that we could still be together during our senior year. Together we made new friends and

got to know the best class Y-Scholars has ever seen — the class of 2014. I got the opportunity to

meet students from other BHS schools and even befriended the program staff as well. I have come to

realize that the Y-Scholars Program is such a supportive and inclusive community, and I have felt so

much warmth from everyone, especially during the long days we spent at the Teen Center. Through the

stressful periods of college applications, we all were there for each other. Although this has only been

my first year in the Y-Scholars Program, it has honestly become my second home.

One major factor that has made me feel at home is my program counselor Chelsea. She has

helped me throughout the entire college application process. Coming into Y-Scholars as a senior, I felt

I was very behind compared to others who had been in Y-Scholars since freshmen year. I did not have a

personal statement ready, nor did I even know what college I wanted to go to. In short, seeing myself

in college was a messy blur. After working with Chelsea one-on-one every week and receiving extra

help from other Y-Scholars staff and students, I finished my personal statement and knew more about

college and scholarships.

In addition to the college assistance, Y-Scholars has helped me mature and improve my

communication with others. One aspect I have noticed myself maturing is my ability to talk to adults.

The program staff always treats Y-Scholars like adults, friends, and students by holding us to high

standards and also believing in us. I learned to make new friends by working on my communications

skills and learning how to listen to others. I learned the importance of community and have done better

because I have people who are always there to help me and guide me in the right direction.

From my experience in the Y-Scholars

Program, I have learned that having a strong

sense of community is important in order to

develop my leadership skills and help others

around me. I now believe that I am prepared

for college, and it will be easier for me to

make new friends and adapt to a new com-

munity. I want to be a stronger leader in the

future, and I will be able to fulfill any tasks

that come my way. Although I am leaving

this amazing community, the Y-Scholars Program will always be my second family. I hope to come back

one day so that I can continue to contribute to the place that has taught me so much.

MATURING THROUGH A PROGRAM

By Jimmy Fuentes

In my time at the Y-Scholars Program, I have come to appreciate all the people who have helped

me develop from a scared little boy with social anxiety and a lack of social skills to an outspoken

individual with charisma and leadership skills.

At the beginning of my freshman year, I remember being a foolish boy with little care about my

grades. In fact, I was more worried about serving my time for the program in the school library than

most other things. I would often get lectured at by Julie in group meetings for being irresponsible and

not taking full advantage of the program. This usually sparked conversations where we would try to

convince each other about what commitment really means. After a while, Julie helped me become more

aware of my behavior and focused on getting me to spend more time with the program. She would sit

me down after group meetings to have one-on-one discussions about my behavior. She then talked to

me about focusing my outspoken personality and using that to develop my leadership skills. For

example, I could try initiating discussions during group meetings to break the ice and get other people

to contribute to the discussion. I at first laughed at the thought of myself in a leadership role. However,

looking back now, I realized that Julie saw there were some qualities she wanted bring out of me.

In my sophomore year, Julie had to leave

for graduate school. In order to find me a

counselor whom I would work well with, I was

assigned to Justin. I ended up loving that group

because it was a friendly and open group that

encouraged having fun and getting work done.

To add onto the positive experiences, I was

assigned with some old and newly made friends

in that group. Justin helped me by not only

being an understanding counselor, but by

providing me with advice about how I should

handle my emotions. He is an incredibly self-disciplined person who gave me some of his discipline.

Justin understood that I was involved in football and wrestling, but he kept me accountable for keeping

up with the rest of the group. He was somebody who would listen to my complaints and gave me advice

on how to resolve my issues with people. I would like to be a role model for others like Justin one day.

Yes, I hope to be as cool as Justin is.

Then came my hardest year in high

school, junior year. During that year, I was sent

to a mental hospital and basically missed two

weeks of school. I was traumatized by the whole

experience. I found it difficult to concentrate on

my goals and plans. The only way I was able to

get through my life during that period was by

coming to the Teen Center and talking about my

problems. It was a place where I truly felt

comfortable sharing my thoughts, my fears, and

my angers. Finding the focus and drive to do well in school at that point was definitely not at the top of

my priority list. Luckily, in the Y-Scholars Program, John, Stefany, and Ashley (program counselors and

tutors) helped me in moving past a terrifying and hard experience. Many times throughout that year, I

questioned if I should keep trying in school and stay in the Y-Scholars Program. I was so close to giving

up, but I am glad I made the right decision by choosing to stay in Y-Scholars. After working with Ashley,

I managed to increase my grades, become more serious and focused on academics, and work on my own

personal growth. I learned how to manage my personal frustrations with myself. I realized that everyone

at the Y-Scholars Program is amazing. They are great at not only helping with college assistance and

academics, but they also care deeply about the students that come in every day.

Senior year only drove that point further when I was graced with the opportunity to have my

final counselor be Ashley. During the summer before Y-Scholars, I had planned to slide through high

school and attend a community college afterwards. When Ashley heard about my plan, she was

speechless upon hearing the decision I made. She refused to accept that I would aim for community

college because it was the easy way out. She pushed, challenged, and supported me throughout the year

by making me see that I do have the potential to be at a 4-year university. Her goal to strive for a

better me is reflected in the work that I have done including college applications, scholarships, and my

resume. Not only that, Ashley was there for me during some very rough patches in my life. I do not think

I would be where I am today without her assistance. Ashley and the people here in the Y-Scholars

Program helped me become a better person than I would have ever even imagined. Now, my goals and

aspirations are to pay back the infinite debt that I owe to the Y-Scholars Program for putting up with

me, pushing me past my expectations set for myself, and supporting me when all I wanted to do was

give up. From here on out I will take the skills I have gained and go further than where I am at today

because Y-Scholars has provided me the directions and skills to finally grow up.

LEAVE THE “OUTSIDE” OUTSIDE By Audi Huang

“Sorry, I am busy.” I hear these words frequently from students to staff to other people in my

network. Everyone is busy, and it has become a culture in itself. I am part of this too. In fact, I used to

be so busy that I worked long hours and nearly drove myself to madness. By dinner time, I was half

devouring my food since I skipped lunch due to being so busy and half feeling like I got whooped in a

boxing match. Is this starting to sound familiar?

The moment of truth came one day when someone asked me, “How do you know you are actually

being effective?” My initial reaction was, “RUDE! I have made a full commitment to the Y-Scholars

Program and dedicated so many hours each day to my work with students and staff.” I tried coming up

with an amazing response to impress the heck out of this person. And yet, I was not able to construct a

strong argument with enough proof to blow the person’s mind away.

That summer, I tried something I had never done before. I went on a road trip alone. Part of it

was the adventure. The other part was the need to get out of my environment. The time away and the

solitude gave me time off from all the “busy” distractions that go on in my daily life from work email

notifications on my phone to Facebook updates to family commitments. Most importantly, I left my work

behind. I had a fantastic time enjoying my travels and taking pictures. Without the annoying distractions

and the stress of being busy, I had the opportunity to create an open mental space to reflect on the

work I was doing. It was then I realized that being busy is an action by choice. At some point in my life, I

started believing that being busy means I am doing a lot and contributing. But I realized it does not

necessarily equate to a high level of effectiveness. You can spend a lot of time trying to figure out a

math problem. Unfortunately, if you used the wrong equation, then there goes tons of hours working on

that problem. Fortunately, we know what to do when we run into a problem. We analyze what we did,

find the errors, and fix them so we can resolve the issue. Reflecting on my work in a clear mindset

allowed me to create new ideas which led to our development of an awesome tutoring team and our

emphasis on student improvement. Both have resulted in increasing program effectiveness.

My road trip allowed me to see the importance of leaving the “outside” outside. For most in the

Y-Scholars Program, the “outside” is school, social circles, and home life. For me, my “outside” was my

job, and I needed to step away to have my own moment and space to check exactly how good of a job I

am doing. I now reflect on my work in a different setting. Instead of taking a road trip, I modified that

by spending mornings at a café to kick off my day because I am out of my normal environments like

home or work. For Y-Scholars, we try to build that same environment for students. They have a space to

go to get feedback and self-reflect on their own lives and schedules and “busy-ness”.

I challenge you to try reflecting on your busy schedule. However, you must first find that place

where you can have a clear mindset without distractions. Treat your busy schedule like a math problem.

Check your commitments and see if they are actually leading you to completing the assignment. Except,

this assignment is your life goals, careers, dreams, and whatever you have planned for the future. Are

you doing your best to achieve excellence and contribute to those commitments that can actually help

propel you towards your life’s goals and aspirations? How about the commitments you are just “meh”

about? If they are taking too much time, making your schedule busier, or even worse, preventing you

from dedicating more time to commitments that make a bigger impact on you, then it is time to re-think

your busy schedule. It is good to want to explore around and try this and that because they sound

interesting. However, it is an extraordinary feeling to discover that one thing which lights the fire in you

and motivates you to dedicate countless hours to that special commitment. Even better, you will

actually enjoy those hours instead of dreading how busy you are. I believe I know a little bit about that.

I have been working with the Y-Scholars Program for 12 years now, and I am just getting started.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2014 We encourage you to seek your passion. Allow your commitment, leadership,

attitude, self-discipline, and passion guide you in reaching your goals. We

wish you the best of luck in your academic and professional career!

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT

On behalf of the YMCA of the Central Bay Area, we want to

give wholehearted thanks to all the staff, volunteers, and

student leaders for their endless hours of support and

guidance in helping our amazing students build their

self-improvement and achieve their dreams of continuing

their education beyond high school,.

We want to also thank the many donors who continue to

financially support the Y-Scholars Program so that our

students are able to receive and take advantage of the

academic services and social support that we offer.

We want to give special thanks to our students’ families,

school counselors, teachers, and friends who continue to

support our mission and work with us by encouraging the

students to pursue college.

Finally, we thank the following sponsors for their generous

support and for making this graduation event possible.