Class of 2007 - Students Rising Above

Jessica Acosta

How do you cope with being part of a low-income family in affluent Marin County? For seventeen years, Jessica has struggled to find the answer.

Monique Apodaca

Monique overcame the challenges of a turbulent home and is now looking forward to the future and attending college. She wants to become a pediatrician.

Tiffany had a difficult childhood - while growing up, her mom would keep her out of school for days. But an act of kindness from a family member saved her and she is ready to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.

Ari Colby

Ari and his siblings were placed in foster care five times before finally leaving his substance-dependant mother. He has worked hard to catch-up academically and now looks forward to attending San Francisco State University in the fall.

Vania Ellison

Vania has had a difficult childhood and education has proven to be her salvation. She wants to attend college to become a professional Sign Language interpreter.

Amily He

Amily was the only member of her family to speak fluent English when they emigrated from China to the US several years ago. She became a math tutor to help support the family and taught her mom English to get a job.

Here is the latest from Amily - her postcard from college.

Josué Hernandez

Josué is a ward of the court, and living on his own. But an act of kindness was all he needed to go back to school where he is now student body president at Castlemont.

Cierra Hill

Cierra suffered a child’s worst nightmare; her alcohol-dependent mother abandoned her and her little sisters. She now works part-time to support the family while finishing her studies, but needs financial help to realize her dream of going to college.

Here is the latest from Cierra Hill - a postcard from college.

Leelawan Kaewsawang

Leelawan did not speak English when she emigrated from Thailand in 2001. Life became difficult when her father returned to Thailand and she was forced to work full-time in a family restaurant. Hard work and perseverance will make Leelawan the first in her family to go to college.

Here is the latest from Lee - her postcard from college

Souly Nachamphone

Souly promised her dying mom she would go to college, and judging from her 4.23 GPA, that’s precisely where she’s headed. She wants a college degree to help support her sisters and make her parents proud.

Anastasia Novozhilova

Anastasia was placed in foster care and lived with four foster families before she finally found a home with a counselor from her school. Throughout her ordeal, Anastasia studied hard and has a 4.2 GPA.

Here is the latest from Ana - her postcard from college.

Ali Rucker

Ali is passionate about music and is an accomplished jazz singer and musician. Her avocation has been a source of comfort as she watched her family succumb to alcoholism.

Christian Sanchez

Christian's family emigrated from Mexico and his parents worked hard to support the family. Tragically, last August, Christian's father was robbed and murdered and Christian has assumed more responsibilities for the family.

Alvin Somwaru

Alvin immigrated to the US with his mom and brother at age 13. Life in Guyana was very difficult and defined by poverty and violence. Alvin is now determined to finish high school and go to college but needs help to get there.

Alfonso Taylor

Alfonso and his siblings found the strength to stay together and protect each other from the physical and emotional abuse they suffered living with various family members. He wants to follow in the footsteps of his siblings, who are also SRA students, and go to college.

Here is the latest from Alfonso - his postcard from college.