11/30/2011
Maria High School Spanish Club officers, from left, Saira Bautista, Dulse Delgado, Sara Calvillo, Faviola Anaya, Guadalupe Avila, and (not pictured) Paulina Lopez made a commitment to their future when they recently attended a conference at Lewis University with their club moderator, Mrs. Julissa Contreras.
The officers attended the Si Se Puede (Yes You Can) Conference, sponsored by Lewis University, along with 11 other high schools, including St. Rita, Kelly, Gage Park, and De La Salle. The mission of the conference was to empower Latina/o youth to go to college by giving each student knowledge and information about college admission and the financial aid process, along with tips on what to do now to get ready.
The program included a welcome by Lewis University President Brother James Gaffney and a motivational speech by keynote speaker Ernesto Mejia of Cool Speak. Workshops, a college fair, and testimonial student panels educated about educational rights and opportunities and inspired students to believe that they can get a college education.
Faviola Anaya expressed gratitude for being able to attend the conference, saying, “My favorite thing was when Ernesto Mejia gave us his testimony. It is always great to hear stories like that to remind me why I keep on striving for my dream.”
The Si Se Puede Conference presented each attendee with their “Commitment to the Future Certificate”: “I will contribute to my community; I will make a commitment to my parent(s), my teachers, and myself; I will stay in school, work hard, and graduate from high school; I will plan to go to college; I believe in me.”