In 2017, at just 17 years old, I was living alone, surviving one day at a time. Homeless, scared, and exhausted, I was juggling school while facing the overwhelming uncertainty of where I’d sleep next or if I’d eat that day. College was never part of my plan, it felt like a distant dream, one I had already given up on. Then, everything changed.

My high school English teacher saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. Sacrificing his own paid time off, he drove me to CU Boulder’s financial aid office and introduced me to the Guardian Scholars program. That moment was more than a turning point, it was a lifeline. Guardian Scholars gave me so much more than resources; they gave me a family. A family that showed up for me when I needed them.

My first year at CU Boulder wasn’t easy. I spent holidays alone, drowning in loneliness and depression, questioning if I even belonged there. But Guardian Scholars never gave up on me. They offered mental health support when I couldn’t find the words to ask for help. They provided food when I was hungry, tools when I felt lost, and, most importantly, unwavering belief in me when I didn’t believe in myself. With the support of the Guardian Scholars program, I didn’t just survive, I found the strength to thrive.