GB Magazine December 2022 | Page 41

“ BLCI taught me how to manage my time , my grades , how to balance my bank account , tutored me in writing and math , and taught me to give back to my community ” Denise shared with GB Magazine . “ This program made me feel like I have a strong hold on my future and made me the type of person that strives to take the
Denise with her classmates at Opportunity for Impact
harder path and seek leadership roles that make me stronger . If I had not joined this program nine years ago , I do not think I would have ended up in the top ten percent of my class , or even known how to get there ! I would not have been prepared for how much dedication and hard work it takes to reach my dreams and aspirations .”
Denise Mellado
Today , Denise is just months away from graduating from high school and enrolling in college . The skills she developed at BLCI have led her to take on leadership roles in her school yearbook as well as on the cheerleading team . Looking forward , Denise plans to apply to prestigious schools such as Stanford and the University of California Los Angeles , and other universities . For her bachelor ’ s degree , she plans to study philosophy , political science or communications as a foundation for her eventual goal of attending law school to become an attorney .
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