Most people can agree that education is important for every man, woman and child on Earth. With it, people can work towards fulfilling their own life goals, desires and dreams. In my opinion, two of the most important aspects a person can receive during an educational journey are motivation and encouragement, whether it be from family, friends, literature, films, music, the list can go on. As a young adult, I have been extremely lucky enough to have grown up within various types of communities that constantly encourage and motivate, in regards to academic studies, personal hardships and just towards the ability to persevere in life.
Though, I have also found myself in communities that have dozens of low-income families, families who are unable to provide for and are unable to successfully nurture their own children’s academic lives. Within situations like these, children and teens can often lose hope, motivation and may not even receive enough or even meaningful encouragement. As a result, the full capabilities within these youth groups can be overlooked and sometimes even ignored.
Fortunately, there are dozen of existing and active organizations who see to it that kids obtain the guidance, resources and knowledge they need to gain a higher education.
La Vida Scholars is a non-profit organization that equips low-income, high-achieving Lynn, MA students with resources and preparation needed to enter great colleges, and awards parents who save with matched funds and the training necessary to make informed decisions regarding their child’s higher education.
During my time with La-Vida, I have witnessed an impressive and sympathetic staff who dedicate loads of time to work with fun, bright, talented and intelligent scholars and, they truly enjoy doing so. La-Vida staff members have built, and continue to build, strong relationships with scholars and their families. I’ve been fortunate enough to come across lots of scholars currently enrolled in the program and scholars who have graduated from the program and are happy and hardworking college students.
Saturday June 10th was the 2017 La-Vida Scholars Graduation, and all attendees had loads of fun and celebrated the achievements LS scholars had accomplished within their three year time with the program. It was also a time for reflection for both the scholars and the staff of LVS, for them to think about all the hard work completed from both groups.
I had the opportunity to interview Rubin Ruiz, a recent La Vida graduate and a soon to be first year student at Skidmore College and he was able to say some great things:
“La-Vida opened the door for myself and my fellow scholars to continue to visit college campuses. La-Vida takes in teens from Lynn who want to strive to be greater, the chances to be greater. The organization is proof that Lynn can be more than it is. I owe a lot of my success to them. I hope to leave Skidmore a better man than I am now. I’m just excited to go there and learn and when I do start, I know it’s going to be great!”
Currently, I am assisting La Vida during their preparations for an upcoming multi day college campus visit trip in August. To make the trip happen and for it to be successful, we have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds. You can find the link below as well as more information about the trip …all and any of your donations are greatly accepted and appreciated. I am also assisting any and all staff members at La Vida with everyday office work and will be taking part in the recruitment process for the new group of incoming 10th grade scholars. After my time with La-Vida I hope to gain management, organization and leadership skills, a more positive and optimistic view on learning and education and a stronger motivation to learn and explore when I get back to campus for my second year of college. So far, I am having a really interesting and rewarding experience with La Vida and the Forest Foundation.
Clearly lots of teens within Lynn are in good hands.
https://www.gofundme.com/la-vida-scholars-summer-campus-tour
