Stephanie's College Fund

This fund is in response to the amount of support towards my family and I after the Los Angeles Times piece "Amid COVID-19 family hardships, high school students work double duty: jobs and school "was published.

My name is Stephanie Contreras-Reyes. I use she/her pronouns and I am currently a senior at Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School. Growing up, I was accustomed to taking multiple roles in my family: being a teacher for my three younger siblings, an interpreter for my immigrant parents, and an embroidery laborer after school when my family began to struggle financially.

Only having had an education up to the ninth grade, my parents could not answer my questions about college. Instead, they embedded in me a desire to advocate for my educational needs at a young age and claim the education denied to my ancestors. I speak for my family’s dreams, my community’s needs, and my vision to make healthcare affordable for all, regardless of citizenship or socioeconomic status.

I feel prepared to not only survive, but thrive beyond high school knowing that I have an entire community by my side. I am a proud Latina. I was raised in a loving immigrant home with big dreams. I will be walking the graduation stage this June at the top of my class and as the first in my family’s history to do so.

Thank you so much for your unconditional support. Gracias por su apoyo incondicional.