‘Latine Voices’ Stories

Meet Jordy Mendoza, a first-generation college graduate from Houston who has defied the odds and achieved academic and career success as a OneGoal alum.

College was never part of Yesenia Garcia’s plan. But joining the OneGoal cohort in her school not only led to achieving a degree, she’s now an advocate for students like her. “OneGoal set a foundation for me. I fell in love with education. I fell in love with equality. It gave me a sense of pride. And it definitely gave me hope, because I remember not having any and when college was not on my radar whatsoever.”

Eric Solorio Academy High School in Chicago partners with OneGoal to bring our curriculum, training, and resources to students pursuing postsecondary pathways. 25 of the 26 OneGoal Year Two class of 2022 seniors enrolled in their chosen postsecondary path.

Caleb sat down with us for a conversation about his journey, the lessons he learned along the way, and where he’s headed next.

The pathway from a high school diploma to a postsecondary degree is not always a straight line. For OneGoal alum in Massachusetts, Esvin Ruiz, the journey has been full of unexpected detours, including several frightening health challenges and financial setbacks.

For some students, a two-year pathway is exactly the right opportunity based on financial, academic, and personal match.