Externally, the biggest challenge I had to overcome was being able to afford the cost of an education and not letting that discourage me from making the investment to continue my education – but with the proper information I received at my workshop, I was able to obtain scholarships that ended up fully funding my way through UCLA. It was a privilege to have Alumni Leaders, Writing Coaches, College Coaches and Rap Directors take the time to instill their belief in me and provide me with reassurance that I was capable of anything. PeerForward played a huge role in helping me develop that confidence. I had to believe in myself in order to prove that a young Latino from a socio-economically disadvantaged background could be capable of not only making it into a four-year university, but also make a name for himself by investing in my college experience once there.
One of the biggest internal obstacles that I had to overcome to get to college was my self-confidence. What obstacles or challenges did you have to overcome in order to get to college? I aim to embody the very mission that PeerForward stands for – giving all students from all backgrounds the opportunity to obtain a higher education. When I got to UCLA, not only did I develop research projects that focused on eliminating achievement gaps within urban communities, but I also became active in tutoring and mentoring programs with local LA high schools to engage with students like myself. I was inspired to play a role in addressing these disparities on my own campus. PeerForward also played a critical role in shaping my college experience as they made me conscience of the assistance and mentorship that students like myself, who did not come from the most fortunate of backgrounds, need in order to make the most out of the college experience. My Writing Coach helped me identify the value within my experiences, both personal and academic, which ultimately helped me find my voice and be comfortably with sharing my story.
#HOW TO RUN THE GOMEZ PEER PROGRAM PROFESSIONAL#
PeerForward helped in my preparation for college by exposing me to the application process earlier and helping me make conscious and informed decisions about how I would be able to fund my education, through self-advocacy activities like “Tower of Power.” This proved beneficial not only for my academic career, but also as I started to develop professional and interpersonal skills.
How did PeerForward help you prepare for college and influence your college experience? It’s amazing to witness the power of utter emotional vulnerability and honesty – as we can sometimes get too wrapped up in trying to retain an unbreakable front, which stops us from being in touch with our emotions and acknowledging not just our trials and tribulations, but also our triumphs and accomplishments. They really set the foundation for creating lasting friendships beyond the four days that I still cherish today. I also loved the intimacy, community, and unity that the Rap Sessions created amongst all the Peer Leaders. What definitely stood out about my workshop was the energy and charisma of the Alumni Leaders – they provided an extra spark that kept everyone going and taught me how the greatest of mentors are the ones who are the most authentic, unique and honest. My workshop took place at the University of Redlands, where, for the first time in my life, I was able to get a glimpse of what it would be like to be away from home and be independent, both of which came in handy when I entered undergrad at UCLA. I had the great fortune of becoming a Peer Leader in the summer of 2010 entering my senior year at Inglewood High. When did you become a Peer Leader? What was your summer workshop experience like? PeerForward alumni have followed many career paths and found much success.