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2008-2009 School Year Success Stories

High School: Boston Community Leadership Academy
Adviser: Jenna Cassoli
Student: Arielys

Arielys is a star student at BCLA. She has great academics, is involved with her class council, and provides a consistent friendly presence around the school. After working with her a few times, I brought the TORCH scholarship program at Northeastern to her attention. She wanted to go for it, so we sat down for almost two hours so I could get to know her better and write a good recommendation. Once I had learned more about her life, I easily wrote five pages strongly recommending her to the program. She got an interview based on my letter, and she did really well at it.

Arielys receiving the TORCH scholarship was perhaps my greatest success story so far. We were both beyond excited about it. Her scholarship will cover not only tuition and room and board, but fees, books, and a stipend. Last year this scholarship was given to eleven students in the entire country. As the scholarship is designed to do, this will enable her hopes for her college experience to become reality. Without a full scholarship, there's a chance she wouldn't have been able to go to college at all, and certainly not to Northeastern. It was really amazing for me to be a part of that. And it's even more amazing for her!! A lot of things have been uncertain for her, and this is such a good opportunity. She's going to get her bachelor's for free and use it to change her life. I am so happy this came through for Arielys. I almost can't believe it.

Arielys is one of many students I have a strong relationship with, and I believe that makes all the difference. It's so overwhelming to think how much this scholarship will change her life. And even more overwhelming to me is the thought that she wouldn't have even known about the scholarship without my telling her. It was because I really knew her that I directed her to it. And it was because I took more time to learn about her that she got to the next round. All it took was a few hours of my timenot even half a dayto get her started through the process. I just think we're both so lucky to be where we are, making changes.

Even though Arielys is totally set up to complete her bachelor's degree, I know we will continue our relationship. She has already volunteered to come back to BCLA and speak to students about her journey. And recently, when I was interviewing for my own financial aid program for graduate school, she was there after school wishing me good luck just like I had for her.

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