The Mission Promise Neighborhood Scholarship Fund started last spring, helping send four deserving John O’Connell High School seniors to college. This scholarship fund is now entering its second year, as we look to send more Mission youth on to postsecondary education.

Update #1: Ivonne Villanueva (photo), San Francisco State. (Original story.)

What have you been learning at school? What is your major?
I’ve been learning many new things at school about health equity, plus social and educational justice. My major is Business Administration.

What has been your biggest challenge at college?
My biggest challenge at college is to keep paying for my tuition and for several books that are required for my classes.

How does it feel to have the Mission community’s support for your attending college?
It feels really great having the Mission community support me because of the scholarships I’ve been offered — scholarships that have helped me pay for my tuition and books.

Are you still on the same career track or have you changed your career path?
I am still on the same career track of owning my own beauty salon in the Mission District. That means getting my Business Administration degree and my Cosmetology certificate.

Where do you see yourself in four years, upon graduation from college?
In four years, I see myself in working at a beauty salon, but also in the process of opening my own beauty salon in the Mission District.

Update #2: Karen Guzman, Holy Names University. (Original story.)

What have you been learning at school? What is your major?
At Holy Names University, I learn how communication is a fundamental part of life.

What has been your biggest challenge at college?
My biggest challenge can be organizing my schedule and knowing that I have a four-hour commute to come to school every day next year.

How does it feel to have the Mission community’s support for your attending college?
I feel like I have this amazing support that is encouraging me to get a college degree.

Are you still on the same career track or have you changed your career path?
I have now decided that instead of going into public relations I would like to be an events manager for a hotel.

Where do you see yourself in four years, upon graduation from college?
Upon graduation, I have debated joining the Peace Corps or applying to hotels.

Update #3: Elwood Mac Murray, UC Merced. (Original story.)

What have you been learning at school? What is your major?
At my time here at UC Merced, every day has been a learning experience. Being my first year here at UCM, I haven’t been able to get too deep into my major, but for the majority I have just been learning how to be successful in my classes.

What has been your biggest challenge at college?
One of the biggest challenges I have faced since coming to college is self discipline. In college, you decide what to do with your time, which is hard because that wasn’t something I was used to in high school. It’s tough to just start studying for a class without the motivation or discipline. So, I would have to say time management would be my biggest struggle — just to know when to say I should start working on school assignments.

How does it feel to have the Mission community’s support for your attending college?
If it wasn’t for the Mission community’s support, I wouldn’t have been able to buy textbooks, a laptop and basic supplies. Without having a laptop or the money for textbooks, it wouldn’t even be possible for me to participate in any of my classes.

Are you still on the same career track or have you changed your career path?
As of now, I am still on the same career track from when I started. There have been some reconsiderations because it has been difficult, but nothing in life is easy if it’s worth something.

Where do you see yourself in four years, upon graduation from college?
In four years, I see myself walking across a stage ready to receive my diploma. Then I see myself applying everything I learned to real world problems and doing what I’ve wanted to do my whole life.

Update #4: Anahi Velazquez, San Francisco State. (Original story.)

What have you been learning at school? What is your major?
As an now, I am working on my general ed classes, but I am also taking the classes required to be admitted into the nursing program.

What has been your biggest challenge at college?
The only hard thing for me is getting used to the campus, since my John O’Connell High School was smaller.

How does it feel to have the Mission community’s support for your attending college?
It’s been good because it has helped me pay for my books, and part of the tuition that wasn’t cover by Cal grant.

Are you still on the same career track or have you changed your career path?
I am still on the same career path, working hard to get in the nursing program provided at State.

Where do you see yourself in four years, upon graduation from college?
I really want to see myself in nursing school.

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Can you make college dreams come true for another deserving Mission Promise Neighborhood student?

Please donate today on Razoo.

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About Mission Promise Neighborhood

The Mission Promise Neighborhood is a citywide community partnership that was created to support kids and families living, working and attending school in the Mission District. It brings together schools, colleges, community organizations and community leaders to help kids graduate and families achieve financial stability.