Today’s guest was former Hope Life Skills student, Hope High 2010 graduate, Georgetown University graduate, and present student in Columbia University’s graduate program in International Relations,

Marta Aparicio.

Today’s Life Skills class HOST, Ambar Tavaras (left), welcomes Marta Aparcio (right) to Hope High School prior to today’s class.

Marta began today’s class sharing her amazing story,

from her birth in Guatemala, meeting her parents for the first time in the United States when she was 11 years old, living on her own as a senior at Hope High working 30 hours a week to support herself all the while fighting personal doubt and persevering through an assortment of challenges, attending Georgetown University on a full scholarship, to being accepted to Columbia University’s esteemed graduate program on International Studies and receiving a significant fellowship

Ambar introduces Marta to her classmates to start today’s class.

Students welcome Marta to Hope Life Skills following Ambar’s introduction.

Jarlene Carona networks with Marta at the end of today’s class as Katlyn Tavares waits to do the same.

Marques Jett Correira networks with Marta as other students wait to do as well.