BRYC Fellow Sajada recently graduated from Glen Oaks Senior High School. She is reflecting on four years of success-success, she feels, that was bolstered by her BRYC College Mentor, Veronica. After meeting Veronica, an educational policymaker at the Louisiana Department of Education, Sajada has gained newfound confidence and determination. Sajada says that Veronica has helped her overcome her anxiety about going to college and given her the courage to pursue her dreams. Says Sajada, “Veronica inspired me to take action. She inspired me to always try. I admire her persistence and her sense of humor. She’s always supportive of me in my decisions, but she’s firm and holds me accountable for my actions. She cares about me as a person.”

Sajada’s desire to prepare for the ACT and become involved in the community motivated her to join BRYC the summer before her senior year of high school. She feels that BRYC has helped her become more well-rounded and push herself to succeed. With BRYC’s encouragement, Sajada has become a certified nursing assistant, placed second in her school’s JROTC LET Board, and served as a student representative for Governor Jindal’s Commission for College and Career Readiness, all while maintaining top grades. This summer, Sajada will work for the Louisiana Workforce Commission before enrolling at Dillard University, where she plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She aspires to someday go to medical school and become a doctor. There is no doubt that Sajada will continue to accomplish great things. She says, “I would love to mentor someone someday like Veronica mentored me. I’d like to share my experiences with others.”