Starting College

Our newest collegians have officially started college and have the best stories to share as they visit us Tuesday nights. 

“My dad walked me onto the Diablo Valley College campus and his smile was bigger than mine,” shares Samariah Eastman as she giggles about her first day on her college campus. “I did get a little lost, but people were nice and could tell I needed some help! I made sure to sit in front of the class too!”

Aaron Meneses continues his college career at College of San Mateo.  “Hands down, I was most excited for my Calculus and Physics class. My excitement was met with adversity, the books were $200 each and I automatically get charged for any digital programs that are used during the courses in order to do the online portion of the homework. The whole time I freaked out because I didn’t have the $500 to purchase my books, but Alive & Free provided the funds necessary for me to stay on track and remain successful. I am very grateful for their assistance, life as a full-time student/parent is already hard enough.

The first day was business as usual, most of my professors were very serious this time around but overall, very caring. They are strict because they want me and others to take our classes seriously so we all succeed.

Alive & Free came up the entire time I was in my classes. I see how many young people live very opposite to what was taught to us at Alive & Free. I learned that I, an alumni of Alive & Free, am being held to a higher standard and that it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing, what’s important is what I am doing in order to become successful and transfer to a four year university. The entire time, the Coachisms: ‘Dare to be different’ and ‘Don’t let your circumstances dictate your behavior’ continue to ring true in my head and in my heart.”