High School Minorities Go On
It’s no secret fewer minorities receive a college education than their white peers, but ISU’s Celebrate Your Future program is trying to change that.
The conference not only attempts to motivate students but help them explore different careers a post secondary education can offer.
From life as a gangster to a Harvard Graduate, Richard Santana travels the country encouraging minority students they too can live the dream of becoming doctors and lawyers.
“I try to go in and point out some of the things that can deter them, some of the obstacles they need to overcome and of course instill the hope of achieving the dream,? Santana said.
Hundreds of high school students from North Fremont High School to Firth High School and every high school in between gathered at ISU’s University Place to learn how they can get to college.
Management Assistant at ISU Connie Gomez said many of the students just don’t know where to start.
“A lot of the students are told that the option is not there for them, and to not even dream about it, so this opens the doors and shows there is funding and opportunities for them to go on, and we want to show them education can be fun,? Gomez said. ?It doesn’t have to be a drag.”
Skyline High seniors said they appreciate the support.
“I used to not want to go to college but looking at it now, it gives me more education after high school, an opportunity to meet new people, and give me the education I need and do what I want to do,? Yuriana Moreno said.
Jasmine Alatorre is already writing for her school paper and wants to become a journalist.
“You can’t let people tell you you can’t do it because you can you just have to believe that you can and don’t let people put you down,? Alatorre.
Now that they know what to do, they say there are no excuses.
“I’ve learned even though you might be a minority you still have the potential to be able to go to college,? Cristian Figueroa said. ?It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor or white or whatever race you are; you have the opportunity to be able to go to college if you put you mind and heart to it.”
By 2020 the Idaho State Board of Education has a goal that 60 percent of Idaho’s 25-to 34-year-olds will have a degree or certificate of value.
