STEPHANIE FERNANDEZ
Stephanie's story begins with her parents, who emigrated from Ecuador in the 1990s, seeking a better life. Stephanie's father, a man of ambition and strict principles, recognized the value of education upon arriving in the United States. His experience running a popular restaurant called 'Chicken Bar' reinforced this belief. Despite the restaurant's success, his lack of business education forced him to sell it, leaving a vivid memory that translated into a determination to ensure his children would not face the same limitations.
By the time Stephanie was in elementary school, her father had become very strict about her grades, setting a high bar for academic performance. This rigorous upbringing laid the groundwork for Stephanie's middle and high school journey, steering her toward a future filled with educational opportunities. Starting in seventh grade at a middle school in North Bergen, Stephanie was in a town targeted by programs designed to help academically promising students from low-income families. One program was Seed Access: http://seedsaccess.org, which sought out students with potential and provided them with the tools to succeed. The application process for Seeds Access was rigorous, requiring six essays, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and an interview. The program was highly selective, bringing in about 200 students and retaining only 120 after a three-week boarding school testing period. During this test period, students took classes and were mentored by alums of the program, who acted as student advisors. The focus was on evaluating their potential to handle the academic rigors of boarding school. Seeds Access partnered with several boarding schools and offered scholarships to students who met strict income requirements.
Boarding school was a new and challenging environment for Stephanie. The small class sizes of six to eight students allowed teachers to structure their classrooms creatively, but it also meant intense academic work. Sports and extracurricular activities were emphasized as crucial components of a well-rounded education for college applications, but Stephanie had to balance these with her rigorous academic schedule. Her success in the Seeds Access program introduced her to another opportunity, QuestBridge. QuestBridge partnered with 50+ colleges and universities across the United States and aimed to help high-achieving, low-income students gain admission to top schools. Once accepted, Stephanie had to apply to up to 12 schools and rank them according to preference. QuestBridge provides a pathway for students to apply for early admission to all 12 schools, increasing their chances of acceptance. The scholarship was fruitful for Stephanie, helping her earn a full scholarship to Columbia University.
Through hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of her family, Stephanie's journey from a small town in NJ to the halls of a prestigious university became a testament to the power of education and the resilience of the human spirit. Her story is not just one of personal triumph, but also of the transformative impact of education on her community. It is a story of overcoming obstacles, seizing opportunities, and forging a path to a brighter future for all.
