Jenny is currently a freshman at USC studying biological sciences with her sights set on medical school and a future as a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. She is on a full-ride scholarship and even plays tenor saxophone in the USC Marching Band, performing at football games.
Before A Place Called Home
Not long ago, however, a future like this felt impossible to her. Growing up in South Central as the eldest of four in a first-generation (proud Guatemalan) family, Jenny carried many responsibilities far beyond her years.
Spanish was her first language and learning English was challenging. On top of that, as the eldest child, she often felt pressure to stay strong, hold in her emotions, and figure things out on her own.
The Pressure Intensified
During the pandemic, the pressure and anxiety she felt only intensified. While her mother was pregnant and her father was busy working, Jenny had to step in to take care of her younger siblings while managing her own schoolwork and friendships all while living with a constant fear that something would happen to her family. She often worried about her own parents while they were at work and carried the weight of not knowing what the next day might bring.
Jenny said it was her Christian faith that helped carry her through her toughest times, shaping her identity and giving her a sense of hope. Over time, it became a source of steady reassurance when life felt scary, overwhelming, and uncertain.
Then Came A Place Called Home
When Jenny first arrived at our door, she was timid and rarely ventured beyond her comfort zone. We provided her with a safe place to explore and try new things, so she enrolled in our art, photography, music, and leadership classes, and most recently, the APCH Shaheen Scholars Program, which taught her she could accomplish things that she once thought were impossible.
The Doors Open
More importantly, we believed in her. Through our partnership with the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (OIC), a UCLA Health partner, Jenny had the opportunity to apply for her dream internship, but she wasn’t sure how to navigate the process or even who to ask for help. Our staff, Ms. Wendy and Ms. Katherine stepped in to help her with the entire preparation process including the letter of recommendation – and shortly after, she was accepted!
”When I got accepted, I told my mom and we cried. I thought of all the times my family and I would drive by the Luskin OIC building and how I would tell them that it was my dream to work here one day,” Jenny said. And it was through that internship that her interest in pursuing medicine became a reality.
Building Confidence
Jenny also states that we helped her become courageous. Through the different programs and events we offered, she was exposed to a variety of opportunities that forced her out of her comfort zone and each small step helped build her confidence. And that confidence, she believes, is what led her to USC.
“I never imagined being at USC,” Jenny said. “I never imagined living on campus on a full-ride scholarship as both an APCH Shaheen Scholar and as a Gates Scholar.”
Now she knows that her background and zip code do not determine the limits to her future: she knows that she can ask for help, walk into unfamiliar spaces, and pursue a dream that once seemed inconceivable for a girl like her.
