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My Story:
My name is Jessica Rubio. I came to this country at the age of 14, in 2006. While I watched my family struggle to establish roots in the United States, I also had my own personal struggles as a teenager. I quickly learned, however, the only way to succeed was to find a way to fit in.
I went to school, adapted to a new culture, learned English as I studied hard to finish high school, and ultimately graduated from College in 2015. I experienced what is labeled the “American Dream”.I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Secondary Education. I was the first one in my family to obtain a college degree, but not a single step in this process was easy.I applied to college in May of my senior year in high school, many months after high school seniors turned in their applications. I didn’t know I had to take ACT or SAT tests. I had no idea how to pay for college or apply for scholarships, but that was not the harder part. Once I got to college, I realized that even though I had all my credits and required high school classes, I had to learn a lot more skills to survive in college. I had to learn how to plan, set up goals, manage my time, manage my money, keep up with my classes, make time to eat or sleep, and how to be professional. Thankfully, after a few months, mistakes, headaches, and obstacles, I was able to survive and graduate from college.
Even though my story turned out to be successful, I am aware that not every story is like that. When I began to student teach, I realized that many of my students had also the same struggles, and they also lacked the same skills that saved my college career. Most of them were first generation students, and they did not know if they could go to college, or where to start even thinking about it. That is why I need your help! We need to stop the cycle. I don’t want to go back to a high school 4 years from now, and still see students go through the same struggles.
My dream:
After my experience as a first generation student, as a teacher, and as an activist, my dream is to give back. I want to create a nonprofit organization that guides students to a life with purpose and stewardship in their community. An organization that will teach students transferable skills, professionalism, servant leadership, and motivate them to go and stay in college.
Last year, I had the opportunity to work with Center for Neighborhood Leadership. Through this partnership I created the Academic and Leadership Accelerator for Service (ALAS).
This program assists students in meeting the challenges of preparing for college. It is this model that I want to expand into a nonprofit organization to reach more students. But I can’t do this by myself. I need your help to start this dream, and improve our power as a community.
How you can help:
Please consider donating and sharing this page. I have seen the power of my community that I fight for everyday, I know we can do this together. Many community leaders have stepped up to donate their time and experience to support this dream, but I need your help to make sure more young members of our community have the opportunity to succeed.
This video will show you the results of the program last year. Let’s do this together, and let’s get more students to college!
My name is Jessica Rubio. I came to this country at the age of 14, in 2006. While I watched my family struggle to establish roots in the United States, I also had my own personal struggles as a teenager. I quickly learned, however, the only way to succeed was to find a way to fit in.
I went to school, adapted to a new culture, learned English as I studied hard to finish high school, and ultimately graduated from College in 2015. I experienced what is labeled the “American Dream”.I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Secondary Education. I was the first one in my family to obtain a college degree, but not a single step in this process was easy.I applied to college in May of my senior year in high school, many months after high school seniors turned in their applications. I didn’t know I had to take ACT or SAT tests. I had no idea how to pay for college or apply for scholarships, but that was not the harder part. Once I got to college, I realized that even though I had all my credits and required high school classes, I had to learn a lot more skills to survive in college. I had to learn how to plan, set up goals, manage my time, manage my money, keep up with my classes, make time to eat or sleep, and how to be professional. Thankfully, after a few months, mistakes, headaches, and obstacles, I was able to survive and graduate from college.
Even though my story turned out to be successful, I am aware that not every story is like that. When I began to student teach, I realized that many of my students had also the same struggles, and they also lacked the same skills that saved my college career. Most of them were first generation students, and they did not know if they could go to college, or where to start even thinking about it. That is why I need your help! We need to stop the cycle. I don’t want to go back to a high school 4 years from now, and still see students go through the same struggles.
My dream:
After my experience as a first generation student, as a teacher, and as an activist, my dream is to give back. I want to create a nonprofit organization that guides students to a life with purpose and stewardship in their community. An organization that will teach students transferable skills, professionalism, servant leadership, and motivate them to go and stay in college.
Last year, I had the opportunity to work with Center for Neighborhood Leadership. Through this partnership I created the Academic and Leadership Accelerator for Service (ALAS).
This program assists students in meeting the challenges of preparing for college. It is this model that I want to expand into a nonprofit organization to reach more students. But I can’t do this by myself. I need your help to start this dream, and improve our power as a community.
How you can help:
Please consider donating and sharing this page. I have seen the power of my community that I fight for everyday, I know we can do this together. Many community leaders have stepped up to donate their time and experience to support this dream, but I need your help to make sure more young members of our community have the opportunity to succeed.
This video will show you the results of the program last year. Let’s do this together, and let’s get more students to college!