To help adjust to her new school and meet other students, Alexandra joined the newly formed Latino club. She soon realized the club needed leadership, and became its president.

“There was a lot of work to do,” she says, “Our main goal was to get Latino [students] more involved with extracurricular activities.” Alexandra’s group hoped this would help lower the Hispanic dropout rate.

Her science teacher, an advisor to the club, eventually became an important mentor. “She reached out to me,” Alexandra recalls. “She was willing to spend time with me after school or on weekends to look over my [college] essays and give me advice.”

By her senior year, Alexandra was full of confidence. She began filling out college applications and researching financial aid. She chose a public university in her new state and received an academic scholarship as well as federal grants and loans.