March Alumni Spotlight: Aminta (Quince Orchard High School)
In an effort to be supportive to immigrant youth at all stages of their educational journey, we are also working to mitigate the challenging transition that happens after high school for many of our youth. In one of our new roles at Liberty’s Promise, we have hired Ms. Jenny Escobar, an alumna of LP programs herself, as our Alumni Outreach Coordinator. Her main duty is to connect with past program participants who are facing obstacles on their path towards higher education or the career of their dreams.
One of the young women that Ms. Escobar works with is Aminta. Aminta found her way to Liberty’s Promise programs at Quince Orchard High School, when she was a senior. She had only just arrived from Guatemala the year prior, and in Liberty’s Promise she found a community of peers who were all working hard towards their dreams. The program planted the seed in Aminta’s mind: she wanted to go to college. However, at just 17 years old she had to become independent, which required finding a job, moving out, and paying bills. This was a time of many difficulties for Aminta, and her dream of higher education had to be put on pause.
It was through her continued friendships with her Liberty’s Promise community that Aminta was connected with Ms. Escobar. Speaking of her time working with Ms. Escobar, Aminta said, “She helped guide me, she made everything easier by doing it with me. Together we looked up groups and programs and did the paperwork.” Following Ms. Escobar’s guidance, Aminta enrolled in English classes to prepare her for an English exam which will allow her to start classes at Montgomery College in the fall. Her next step is a conversation with a counselor at Montgomery College, and she has prepared for that meeting with Ms. Escobar so that she goes into it knowing the questions she needs to ask. Aminta’s tenacity is all her own, but she speaks enthusiastically about the value of Ms. Escobar’s role, saying, “It’s great! Sometimes there are a lot of opportunities out there, but one does not know about them. Upon having the help, someone to be the guide, then one is encouraged to continue their education.”