There’s a lot of ground to cover over the timeline of OneGoal’s three-year model to empower Fellows to research, select, and pursue their postsecondary credential of choice. Each year’s lessons have been created to help Fellows set and meet academic and personal milestones, whether identifying the importance of identity representation at an institution or completing FAFSA.
Students are placed in a cohort of approximately 25-30 Fellows and begin taking a credit-bearing OneGoal class. They will:
Explore personal identity, professional aspirations, and a positive sense of self
Research career and postsecondary pathways aligned with their goals
Build on academic skills to bolster their GPA and SAT/ACT scores
Develop personal statements, leveraging the power of storytelling
“I was initially indifferent about college, I was just trying to go to community college and get it over with. … OneGoal gave me a better understanding of how I can get to where I want to go. It’s not, ‘You can’t go there because your grades are low.’ I can be more than what I thought.”
Celinette Valentin
OneGoal Fellow, Massachusetts
“One thing that you don’t see much of in my community is college graduates. So for me, it was natural that I hadn’t considered college before. OneGoal absolutely opened my mind to what was possible and exposed me to so many careers that I had never before considered.”
Destiny Domeneck
OneGoal Fellow, New York
“I realized that I needed to turn things around when I joined OneGoal and learned how large the gap was in college graduation between high-income and low-income communities. It suddenly dawned on me that in feeling apathetic about my education, I was being a participant in my own oppression.”
Mary Morel
OneGoal Fellow, New York
Fellows continue with their cohort for a second year. Year Two is crucial as it is when Fellows investigate, decide on, and enroll in their path after high school. Throughout the year they will:
Complete applications to college and other postsecondary programs
Reflect on how their identity will impact their postsecondary experience
Weigh school options based on professional aspirations, personal values, and financial aid support
Choose their postsecondary pathway and begin the enrollment process
“I wanted to have all the information in front of me before I narrowed down my college choice. You accepted me? Cool, now show me how you’re going to help me pay to attend. I can afford you? Great, now show me that you have a diverse environment that will welcome a Black man onto your campus.”
Patrick Ben
OneGoal Fellow, Illinois
“I was so excited the day that I received my first scholarship award letter from CITGO STEM for $1,000! I framed it and hung it up in my room, and every time I see it, I’m just overwhelmed with pride. This let me know that let me know college was truly in reach. And my Program Director Mrs. Fain was there with me step by step.”
May Al-Maliki
OneGoal Fellow, Texas
“When it was announced that I had won a $10,000 scholarship, I thought I was in a movie and the whole ordeal was a joke. I hadn’t won any of the 25 scholarships I had applied to beforehand, so this news was extremely surprising. The experience solidified in my mind that you should always apply for scholarships.”
Alexiea Feaster
OneGoal Fellow, Illinois
“Within the OneGoal classroom, we learned to pick each other up at our lowest moments and applaud every success. I learned to confide and rely on other students, and for someone like me who solely depended on herself, that was a big deal. To this day, I can call anyone from my cohort for support.”
Isabel Garcia
OneGoal Fellow, Texas
OneGoal continues to support Fellows remotely for one full year following their high school graduation. Additionally, Fellows are connected to on-campus supports and empowered to lean on the non-cognitive skills, such as growth mindset and self-efficacy, developed in high school to drive their success. Throughout the year, they will be guided to:
Attend orientation, leverage OneGoal summer supports and start classes in college or an alternative postsecondary institution
Keep in touch with their Program Directors, to discuss action plans to successfully navigate their courses, on-campus relations, mental health, etc.
Meet with a school advisor to review academic and financial plans
Renew financial aid application + register for next year’s courses
“I now know how to look for the best scholarships for me. When FAFSA opened up on Oct. 1, I finished it on the 2nd. It feels really good that I don’t have to be behind or wondering, ‘Am I going to get as much aid as I need,’ because once you become an expert in it, filling it out year after year isn’t that scary. ”
Jonathan Jackson
OneGoal Fellow, New York
“In October of my freshman year, I had run out of money and was going to be unable to pay for rent for my housing. But I knew to ask for help so I visited a financial aid advisor. We talked about my situation and what I could do. Ten minutes after I had left, he called and told me he had found $2,000 in Texas Grant money.”
Mario Martinez
OneGoal Fellow, Texas
“I already broke through many barriers of education by being the first in my family to go to college. Now I’m on track to beating the statistics about the academic success of students from low-income communities. I don’t just have sights on graduation; I want to aim higher and earn a master’s degree in physical therapy.”
Anabel Ruiz
OneGoal Fellow, Illinois
“It’s weird to say, but for being someone that didn’t even think that college was for him, I’m thriving. I’ve hit the typical college milestones, making new friends, passing my classes, but I’ve also pushed myself in ways I hadn’t expected. College graduation is the only path for me now. ”
John Morales
OneGoal Fellow, Massachusetts
“Postsecondary education provides students with critical skills that shape every aspect of life: time management, rational thinking, and understanding your own cultural value. I’m excited to become a sophisticated, educated, and well-respected man throughout the next three years at North Park University.”
Cesar Bustos
OneGoal Fellow, Illinois
OneGoal Fellows become alumni of the program after completing their first year of postsecondary. While they have completed their time as a Fellow, we know their postsecondary journey, career goals, and life aspirations are, in some ways, just beginning. We work tirelessly to ensure that our alumni have the tools they need within themselves and resourcefulness to seek out additional support to reach their evolving and growing goals and aspirations throughout their educational pursuits and beyond.