“Are there any scholarships for girls?” – Ana asked with hope in her eyes.

Another question: If you asked an 8 th grade teenager, “What do you wish to have the next 4 years while in High School?” Most teenagers might answer: “Money!” Yes. But for what?   Some may say, “for my dream car!”, or “to shop at the mall for the latest designer clothes!”, or “to buy the latest ipod or camera phone!”.

Ana Plascencia and Alma Acosta are two 8 th grade teenagers who would love to have the same things mentioned above as well. But, to the surprise of many, Ana and Alma have answered the question very differently. When I asked Ana and Alma the question: “What do you wish for, as you look at the next 4 years of High School?” Their answer is so simple, yet so profound. Ana and Alma both have a wish above all other wishes. And they are asking me and you to please make this wish come true. What do these two 8 th grade girls dare to ask of you and I? Their answer: “Please Prepare Me for College.”

I asked Alma Acosta about the 1 st time she learned about the East Side Heroes Scholarship. Alma said her 8 th grade teacher brought in information about college scholarships to teach them that college is attainable even though they come from a low income background. Alma said when she read about the annual East Side Heroes Scholarship, she exclaimed to her friends: “Look! Look! – a scholarship for 8 th graders like me!”

Last summer, I met Ana Plascencia hanging out with a group of her friends during a summer school enrichment program which I coordinate each summer. I soon learned, that this group of teenagers were actually a young Mariachi Band! Ana approached me and asked, “Are there any scholarships for girls?” I asked her, “What type of grades do you have?” Ana responded confidently, “All A's and B's”. I proceeded to explain to Ana that every year my friends and I try to raise scholarship money for an 8 th grade student to be able to afford the private high school of their choice, but that its very difficult to do that. Ana became so excited at that slight possibility that she turned in 6 amazing essays, each essay 2 full pages in length. The following are excepts from some of Ana's essays: “…one of the most difficult experiences I have faced since I was little has been the situation with my dad. It has been difficult to know that I have someone missing in my life and in my heart…I do not know the love of a dad or the hug of one…Even though it hurts that my dad is missing from my life, has allowed me to appreciate my mom so much more. My mom would work two jobs. My mom has been a mom and dad to me and has done so much for me, I love her.”

More on Ana: Ana is currently an 8 th grade student at LeyVa middle school in East San Jose, consistently earning between a 3.6 and 4.0 GPA. Ana is a talented Mariachi violinist and singer. Ana enjoys volunteering her time tutoring/coaching children how to sing and play musical instruments. Ana aspires to be the first in her family to graduate from college and become an attorney at law.

When Alma Acosta 1 st emailed me last summer, I soon learned that Alma Acosta was as determined as Ana Plascencia about attending Notre Dame, (a private, all-girl College Prep High School). Alma Acosta is an 8 th grade student at Morrill middle school in East San Jose and has consistently earned a 4.0 GPA. Alma is member of City Year, Project Corner Stone, and the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program. Alma enjoys video production and enjoys serving as a peer mediator and peer tutor. Alma aspires to become the 1 st person in her family to graduate from college and is determined to become a US Senator. In her essays, Alma writes: “I still remember the day my grandpa picked up my sisters and I from school….We soon discovered our mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. We were all crying and thinking the worst. I remember asking myself each night how I would ever live without my mom…Fortunately, my mom survived cancer after long hours of chemotherapy and operations.” Alma later writes about her goals: “I hope to become an excellent role model for women everywhere…I also hope to help raise money for students like me looking for a chance to attend a private school. Having an adopted little brother [who lost both parents] made me realize how much happiness I can bring to other children. I plan to adopt a child and help the next generation of heroes!”

To help create these two East Side Heroes Scholarships, please mail in your donation to:

East Side Heroes

PO Box 1164

Santa Clara, CA 95052

“To the world, you may be only one person. But, to one person – you may be the world”

To learn more about East Side Heroes Non-Profit (Tax ID #76-0774783) or to RSVP for the 3 rd Annual East Side Heroes Scholarship Fundraiser Dinner, please contact Enrique S. Flores at: enrique_essj@hotmail.com or call: (408) 515-6544.

East Side Heroes Board of Directors:

1.) Father Greg Boyle, S.J., (Founder of “Jobs Not Jails” in East Los Angeles)

2.) Enrique S. Flores (Bellarmine and SCU grad, Founder of East Side Heroes)

3.) James Barbic (Founder of Lincoln Law Center and Accountant)

4.) Dr. Harold Hoyle (SCU Psychology Professor)

5.) Alfonso Rodriguez (San Jose Police Department 15 years)

6.) Brian Hennessy (Attorney at Law, Bellarmine and SCU grad)

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