I’d like to share the story of Osman Amaya with you. Osman grew up on a farm in El Salvador where his family of 10 shared three eggs a day to feed everyone. His mother wanted a better life for him and his siblings so they migrated to the United States. Upon his arrival Osman enrolled at our partner school, The Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise (LAAAE) and began working part time as a street vendor to help his mother pay the bills. Despite working and attending school simultaneously, Osman managed to join the basketball team, get elected student body president, become a peer mentor, and graduate with honor roll. While enrolled at LAAAE Osman took advantage of every opportunity our school offered. He attended SAT preparation classes, college workshops, and sought the help of the student services team for his college essays and applications.

As a result of Osman’s hard work he was the first in his family to attend college and also earned a full-ride scholarship to College in Michigan. Currently Osman is in his sophomore year at Kalamazoo College and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish. He plans to become a teacher so he can teach students from disadvantaged backgrounds like himself so they can provide a better future for themselves.