Not knowing the next step in your life journey can be daunting and scary, especially in high school, but three seniors at Aurora Central High School realized their potential and their need for something more. All three chose Boys Hope Girls Hope. Boys Hope Girls Hope is a college readiness program helping first generation and low-income students thrive through high school, attend college and then launch into their first career. Boys Hope Girls Hope addresses the opportunity gap at-risk youth entering high school face through provision of academic and personal support in a setting where all belong. “I don’t know where I would be without Boys Hope Girls Hope since my parents did not consider college. They had no idea what to do. I had no idea what to do, but now instead of just graduating high school, I have a plan,” said senior Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar, Juliana. Boys Hope Girls Hope provides after school programming for nearly 75 scholars in their two Aurora Academies (Aurora Central High School and Regis Jesuit High School).
The programming is centered on the long-term empowerment and potential of youth in three different categories: college preparation, college access and college persistence. “BHGH has given me confidence in myself and by providing the things that I need to succeed such as tutors, financial literacy, and types of scholarships. Plus, they helped me achieve my goal, which was getting a job by my senior year and getting accepted into college,” said senior Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar, America, who recently got accepted to Metropolitan State University of Denver. The Boys Hope Girls Hope college preparation programming provides scholars with tutoring, ACT/SAT test prep, financial literacy, career panels, book clubs, participation in concurrent college enrollment, mental health access and support and community service involvement. Each high school scholar serves 25 hours in the community per academic year. “I’ve helped at Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army Food Bank and so much more,” said Juliana.
These three Aurora Central scholars have also participated in college access programming which provides college application support, college visits and tours, individualized assistance with college matching, scholarship applications and FAFSA completion and guidance to assure high school graduated arrive on college campus for their freshman year. “I attended Envision University this past summer with Boys Hope Girls Hope and was able to talk to a mechanical engineer as well as cardiologist. I was given the opportunity through BHGH to meet people that I wouldn’t have necessarily met and connected with,” said Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar, Hillary. College persistence programming includes supporting our 60 collegians spread across the United States with scholarships, support on class selections and majors, partnerships with universities and colleges to provide in person support, connections for on campus health and well-being, and internships/career guidance. As the first semester of school ends, seniors Juliana, America, and Hillary are excited for where their journey is about to take them. They are all currently applying and being accepted into colleges and universities. “I will be the first in my family to graduate high school and the first to head to college. All this is new to me and Boys Hope Girls Hope helped me make a pathway for myself. I wouldn’t be where I am without BHGH,” said America. “Boys Hope Girls Hope gave me a roadmap for me to follow and I’m forever grateful,” said Hillary.