Background: "I'm a year younger than everyone in my grade, and I went to a boarding school in Connecticut my freshman year, but it wasn't a great experience. I'm from an inner-city neighborhood, so when I came back, I was really lucky to get into a program that takes students from one school district into a better one."
How I did it: "I've always been involved in athletics -- cross country and track. Last year, I was accepted into National Honor Society. I'm the president of my school's Spanish club. I'm involved with my school's choir. I also volunteer at my church and help out at Sunday school, as well as being involved with the youth group there."
Test scores and grades: "I've gotten mostly As. I'm really lucky to be in such an amazing school. I got a 2110 on my SAT.
What pushed me: "I feel that there's a lot of negative stigma about being Puerto Rican in America and from an inner city. I have so much faith in where I've come from. Having been in Connecticut with people who were raised in suburban homes and lived amazing lives, I saw how they perceived where I came from and my culture. Since I've seen that, I wanted to change that perception.
I haven't been given as much as a lot of students who are getting into these schools have. It's important that I can break down barriers and be among them.
Now that I've been accepted to such an amazing school, it's opened so many doors for me."
