With a mother in academia, Rebecca Adams grew up in a home that stressed the importance of school in providing personal growth and a promising future. As an adult, she is committed to leveraging a life of learning by opening doors to educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. Her volunteer work at First Graduate® guides students to be the first college graduates in their families. In her two years there, she has been a mock interviewer for students applying to private high schools and a college application essay coach.
“My parents both attended colleges, and they both advised me. Not everyone has that, so it’s a real disadvantage. The system is not fair. And if I can provide a little practical support to someone to help them get into college and start to close that gap, I want to do that,” says Rebecca.
Learning about students is what Rebecca likes best about volunteering; their challenges enable her to put her own life into perspective: “A lot of them have experienced a lot of hardship and they are so resilient, talented, and motivated. So they really inspire me.” Even a conversation in which a student has a different idea for a college application essay warrants its rewards. As both share their thoughts, she steers the discussion toward an agreement, and ultimately mentors and students connect.
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