When six new students first walked through the doors of Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School, they couldn’t have known the path would lead them to some of the nation’s most selective colleges.
Students Keyri B., Sofia D., Aida F., Princess T., Cecilia S., and Marisol M. turned seven years of hard work, perseverance, and mentorship into full-ride scholarships at their dream schools.
“With the help of my teachers, especially my college success advisor, I had the tools to feel confident enough to apply to a scholarship as competitive as Quest Bridge,” Keyri said. “They’ve never given up on me and set standards for us to follow.”
Each senior, a first-generation college student, earned a full four-year scholarship through QuestBridge, a highly competitive national program that connects high-achieving students with top universities.
They will attend Wellesley College, Boston College, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Notre Dame, and Oberlin College, where they plan to study law, medicine, marketing, and public service.
While their college paths will soon take them across the country, the students say their journeys were shaped long before senior year.
Sofia, who will be majoring in biology at Boston College, says Rangel engraved since sixth grade that it was never a question of if they are going to college, but where.
“At Rangel, they made small dreams a possibility because I always thought to myself that I’m not smart enough to be a surgeon,” she said. “All my teachers and counselors made me realize my dreams are valid because I have the drive to pursue them and that anything is possible.”
For Rangel students, college-going culture is intentional, said Erika Gonzalez, college success advisor who works closely with students beginning in their junior year.
Her role is that of a north star, guiding them through the hardest part of achieving their goal. She mentors students through SAT and ACT prep, essay revisions, parent guidance, and competitive scholarships like QuestBridge.
This year stands as one of the largest groups of QuestBridge matches Irma has celebrated.
“I get to be a little piece of their journey. It’s an honor to work with them,” Gonzalez said. “Questbridge is a beast of an application. We start preparing early on.”
For many, earning a full scholarship also represents a milestone for their families.
“Being a Quest Bridge scholar is a window of opportunity I didn’t know was open to me,” Keyri said. “I want to open doors and leave them open for people after me. I feel extremely grateful for everybody who’s helped me and pushed me to be the better version of myself.”
Princess, who matched with Washington University in St. Louis and plans to major in political science, encourages students considering QuestBridge to stay focused on their own path.
“You can always achieve whatever you put your mind to,” she said. “Don’t compare yourself to others. Know that you are your biggest motivator, and the people who walk with you will become your best friends and biggest support system. I’m always going to love my day ones; these are my girls.”
As they prepare to head to campuses hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of miles away, they carry with them the lessons Irma Rangel instilled early on: lead with confidence, support one another, and never shrink their dreams.
And this year, six of those dreams are becoming reality at once.
