Reality Changers has had a long term positive impact on my life. I first got involved with the organization in 2006-2007 while I was a student at UCSD. Coming in as a student speaker and getting to know the students definitely hit some heart-strings; knowing that I could serve as a role-model was gratifying. In 2008 I volunteered during the end-of-the-year celebration; seeing dozens of volunteers come together for such a special occasion showed me first-hand the impact that Reality Changers has had in the community. Over the past 5 months I have had the privilege of helping Reality Changers with the launch of their College Apps Academy. During these past five months I have seen the dedication of every one of the staff members. Christopher, Jesse, Ivan, Marshela, Jonathan, Angela, Cecilia, Ashley, Carlos, Eduardo, Norma and Amy have all been instrumental in making reality changers what it is today. We also have had some amazing help of volunteers and stellar members of the community such as Robert Freund and Vaughn Baker during this last year; they have built the foundation in which College Apps Academy was built. Lastly, we cannot forget the impactful contribution SVP, LEAD San Diego and our College Apps Academy instructors who have also been fully involved in creating the platform that will serve Reality Changers for many years to come. It has been an honor to be part of such a great organization. I look forward to my continued involvement. Reality Changers is truly a great non-profit; a true model for our educational system in this country.
The Reality Changers mission is to support the efforts of teens from disadvantaged or at risk backgrounds in their efforts to become first-generation college students. I began volunteering as a tutor thinking my role was to help students with difficult academic areas, but soon learned my contribution was more as a mentor. With so many of their family members and friends already involved in crime, drugs, teen pregancies or just stuck in dead-end employment, what they needed most of all was reinforcement that they could achieve their dreams, and help crafting a game plan that would both raise their confidence and enable them to answer the naysayers at home and in their neigborhoods who would rather convince them they would never achieve their dreams. I've worked on college essays with one young man whose father put a gun to his head, a young lady whose mother consistently either abused or ignored her and many others whose stories have made me tear up. But seeing them walk on stage at the end of an evening and announce their acceptance to well-regarded 4 year colleges is the best feeling you can imagine. Reality Changers is a well-organized organization led by an inspired staff, many of whom are program graduates, and dedicated volunteers who treasure the relationships they build with their students. A can't recommend the experience highly enough.