Stories

Stories

Geraldine

Meet Geraldine

Geraldine Bogard, a freshman at Brandeis University, is excited about her future. “I think about it all the time. My main idea is to study education and business. I look forward to my internship. I’m really looking forward to running a nonprofit organization in Haiti,” says the 19 year old.

Dejah

Meet Dejah

“She had me pretty young,” Dejah, who has six siblings, says of her mother, “and now she’s getting her associate’s degree. I’m pretty proud of her and seeing her do something different encouraged me to go to school too and be something better.”

Toiell

Meet Toiell

Growing up, Toiell could see that the economic and societal pressures in her Boston neighborhood made it tough to succeed, often limiting opportunities to those with particular talents and gifts. Gifts she knew she did not have.

Juan

Meet Juan

With a little help, Juan Ochoa’s dreams are coming into focus. Once unsure how, or even if, he would get to college, Juan, 17, a senior at Envision Academy of Arts & Technology in Oakland, has already been accepted at three California schools and is on his way to securing the financial aid needed to cover the cost of tuition at whichever one he ultimately chooses.

Jay

Meet Jay

Education was always important in my family. My parents didn't go to college, so it was very important for them that my siblings and I do well in school and find a path to get to college.

Myiesha

Meet Myiesha

I wanted to go to college because I want to create financial stability for myself and my family. But, my experience with the college application process was very tedious.

Kamaiya

Meet Kamaiya

I always knew that I wanted to go to college, even at a really young age, but I didn't start thinking about it seriously until around sophomore year. Of course I was concerned about things like being rejected, SAT scores, but the biggest thing was affordability.

Dario

Meet Dario

I am a graduate of the Jeremiah E. Burke High School and currently a sophomore at Brandeis University double majoring in business and politics. I will be the first in my family to graduate from college.

April

Meet April

Growing up, I knew I was going to make college happen. But there was always this lingering question, how am I going to pay for college? Can I afford it?

Melvin

Meet Melvin

The GBREB scholarship really helped to offset the cost, and that it was renewable made me feel more comfortable attending NYU.

Tannah

Meet Tannah

My uAspire advisor was very hands-on, a big help when I was filling out financial aid applications and telling me what resources were available to me.

Raymond

Meet Raymond

Affording books was one of the most stressful parts of college.

Dakota

Meet Dakota

I love college. I can try so many things. I always wanted to do music so I started in audio engineering, but I was getting more interested in marketing—it’s creative and I’m a creative person.

Gleidson

Meet Gleidson

Now I'm able to pursue my dream. As I prepare to take this next step, it’s a comfort having uAspire there to help me along the way and keep me on track.

Lani

Meet Lani

Having people dedicated to your success is very comforting, to know that someone's out there listening to your concerns and ready to help.

Nahed

Meet Nahed

Working with my uAspire advisor made me more motivated. I was put in a position where I wouldn't succeed and my advisors helped me change that.

Jingyi

Meet Jingyi

Working with my advisor gives me relief to know somebody is helping me and that I have someone to go to with questions.

Michelle

Meet Michelle

uAspire is important in Oakland communities like mine where a lot of kids don't know where to start or don't really have the opportunity.

Edward

Meet Edward

When it was time to plan for college it was stressful thinking, “How am I going to pay for this? Am I going to have the grades? What am I going to study?” But I was optimistic.

Sarah

Meet Sarah

When it came to applying for college, I didn't give it much thought until I started filling out the FAFSA. There was a lot more to the process than I thought.

Zamira

Meet Zamira

Being a first-generation student is a lot of pressure, but I look forward to having a louder voice in the world. My goal is to have degrees so I'll be able to speak and people will listen and take me seriously.

Jean

Meet Jean

I can never thank Alayna enough for helping me take the first steps.

DJuan

Meet DJuan

College has taught me that you can't let your past keep you from finding your future pathway.