Valeria Aguillon‘s journey from a middle school student in San Francisco’s Mission District to a professional dedicated to supporting underserved families is a true testament to how First Graduate transforms lives. From her early days at James Denman Middle School to now, she has navigated her academic journey with First Graduate, which began the summer before seventh grade.
While her peers enjoyed their vacations, Valeria was in a classroom, a commitment that seemed daunting at first. But as she matured, she realized how those sessions were building her future. “It wasn’t easy to be the only one among my friends attending summer school, but those experiences became some of my best memories,” she reflects. These moments laid the groundwork for her academic success and instilled in her a belief that college was within reach. Later on, Valeria excelled in high school and college, where she pursued her passion for sociology at City College of San Francisco and later San Francisco State University.
Valeria particularly credits the mentorship she received for her success: “Having someone believe in me at that young age made a huge difference, and those connections helped tremendously when applying to colleges.” Her mentors guided her academic path and inspired her graduate thesis on mentorship, linking her professional focus back to her own experiences with First Graduate.
Today, Valeria works in education as an ERSEA Intake Specialist at MNC Inspiring Success, helping families similar to hers get the resources they need. “I work primarily with Spanish-speaking folks, providing resources to families that have recently arrived, much like mine did,” she says. Her role allows her to pay forward the support she received, impacting new generations in ways that resonate deeply with her own upbringing.
Her advice to current students is straightforward: “keep pushing forward because it’s all worth it in the end.” Her achievements and contributions clearly show how far you can go when someone believes in you.
We are grateful for the opportunity to touch the lives of so many young people like Valeria in San Francisco and nurture their academic and professional journeys. Countless more stories are waiting to be told, and you can make them possible.
Your contribution can help provide the mentorship, resources, and encouragement that future students need to succeed and thrive, just like Valeria. Help support the next generation of leaders by donating to First Graduate today. Together, we can continue to change lives and build brighter futures.
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