LYNN — For Kevin Menjivar, his two years as a La Vida scholar gave him an opportunity to, someday, make an impact on the community.
Jaki Lopez said she learned leadership, while La Vida taught Josue Jiminian to strive for greater things.
All of the various emotions experienced by the 29 high school seniors who completed the La Vida program were added benefits to the main point: to identify boys and girls from low-income families, match them up with colleges that can best serve their needs — particularly in terms of financial assistance — and then shepherd them through the arduous process of preparing for and applying to higher education.
“La Vida” literally means “life,” and that’s what director Peter Barros believes the organization, which began in 2007 as a program to help Lynn students further their education, gives to these students.
“It’s settled in as a college-access program,” Barros said. “Our mission is to work with low-income, high-achieving students.”
But it’s not just students La Vida tries to reach. It’s families.
“Parents need to be in on this too,” he said. “We know that in a lot of cases, the student is the first in his or her family to go to college, so everyone needs to be involved.”
And Christian Angel-Deleon, an English graduate headed for UMass Amherst, appreciates what he learned.
“I feel like for a lot of us, our parents and other members of our families never got this opportunity,” said Angel-Deleon, who plans to major in psychology and hopes to have a career in child development. “It’s important to have a college prep program like this.”
The two-year program covers all aspects of college planning, beginning with how to identify colleges that might be considered generous with the money it awards. It helps students prepare for college boards, helps them with the various financial aid application forms, and even steers them into community service.
“Colleges are looking for students with diversified backgrounds,” Barros said.
Jaki Lopez volunteered with Project Yes, an after-school mentoring program at Marshall Middle School.
“The kids did a half-hour of homework, a half-hour of other lessons, and then got to go to the gym,” she said. “At first, a lot of the kids were shy, so that allowed me to work on my communication and leadership skills.”
Students apply after their sophomore years. Their financial status is a large factor as “the families have to qualify as low-income,” Barros said. Also, for students to qualify academically, they have to have a 3.2 GPA.
There are 10 sessions per school year, each one covering a specific aspect of the college process.
“It can be difficult to navigate,” Barros said. “Not everyone understands it.”
Students must attend the sessions with at least one family member, Barros said, preferably a parent.
Barros is in the middle of recruiting the 2021 graduating class. Next year, 45 students will complete the program.
“We had 175 families apply,” he said. “So it’s growing.”
Saturday, at a ceremony at KIPP Academy, the 26 scholars graduated from the program.
“This means an opportunity for a better future,” said Menjivar, who will attend UMass Boston.
Said Jiminian, who is headed to UMass-Lowell, “the good support system proved to me that it was the right time to go to college.”
English graduate Yen-Nhi Chit, who will attend Bentley University, said she wanted to go to college anyway, “but this program made it easier.
“It gave us guidance every step of the process,” she said. “It’s kind of a supplement to what you learn in school. La Vida goes in depth.”
For Isamery Lucero, English/UMass Boston, “I developed a lot of friendships,” she said, “not only with my fellow students, but with the people who work at La Vida too. A lot of close bonds.”
Also, she said, “the college process is a challenge. La Vida provides a road map.”
Ana Lopez, Classical/Salem State, completed the program while raising her 2-year-old son, Lucas.
“To me, I learned anything was possible,” she said. “Without La Vida, I don’t think I’d have gone to college.
“The people there spurred me on,” she said. “They understood. I have two jobs, plus go to school, plus this. They made sure I was on top of my school work. Now, I believe I’m capable of doing what I set out to do.”
