Last summer, Drew*, who was 3,000 miles away at Franklin and Marshall College, texted to tell me he was homesick. I knew this feeling well, as I am a first generation college student who chose to leave my home in Los Angeles to attend a college on the other side of the country. Drew, a rising 12th grader at the…
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This semester I have worked closely with Dave*, helping him navigate personal and academic hurdles. As a rising junior, Dave enrolled in multiple AP classes, but the rigor and the work load were much greater than he anticipated. Instead of the single hour of homework he was used to, he now had several hours of work per class. At first,…
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I was inspired to work with Determined to Succeed after hearing the success stories of the students – they were matriculating not only to local and state schools, but by reaching for the stars, they were attending some of the most prestigious schools in the country. As a child of immigrant parents, I understand how real the struggle is to…
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We recently caught up with DTS college student Gabby, a freshman at Occidental College. Here’s what she had to say about college life. What was your transition to college life like?My college transition hasn’t actually ended yet, but so far it has been more positive than not. I have fallen in love with the academic aspect of college. All the…
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Determined to Succeed welcomed 2020 family-style, with our annual new year’s picnic at Kenneth Hahn park. Students and their families spent a sunny (yet chilly!) winter morning catching up with DTS staff, DTS Board members, and one another. Always a treat, many of our college students were home for the holidays and shared the day with us.
