Seventeen-year-old Tenderloin After-School Program (TASP) participant Angelica Lopez always knew she wanted to go to college, but was worried about the impact tuition would have on her family.

“Like so many of our participants in this low-income neighborhood, Angelica has faced obstacles that most young people don’t have to worry about or overcome,” said Laura Choe, TASP Program Manager.

She has more than enough talent and motivation, she just needs support and opportunities to nurture her infinite potential. She is smart, hard-working, down-to-earth, fun, positive, humble… she has more appreciation for living than most adults I know, and this is reflected in her whole approach to life.”

Angelica brought her concerns about paying for college to the attention of Laura and Yvette Robinson, TNDC’s Director of Tenant Services. “They told me not to worry,” Angelica said. “They said ‘We’ll find a way to help get you there. You will go.’”

Stories like Angelica’s are not uncommon at TASP, where children and youth from low-income families can find help to reach their goals. TNDC began providing scholarship assistance in 2006 and since then, approximately $50,000 has been awarded to help TASP participants make college a reality. There are currently five students attending college with assistance from this program.

Angelica was awarded a $5,000 scholarship to help her family offset the cost of beginning school at San Francisco State University this fall. College turned out to be very different from what she was used to. She attended a small high school, so San Francisco State seemed very big. “On my first day, I thought: ‘Oh my God, I’m going to get so lost here.’”

But TASP has taught her not to be afraid to ask for help when she needs it. “They’ve taught me to look for the resources that are available and to take advantage of them,” said Angelica. “And that has helped me feel more comfortable.”

In addition to college tuition, TNDC also provides other crucial academic support, such as helping to pay for school books, SAT prep courses, and school supplies for over 70 TASP participants at every grade level. “This allows TASP to extend its support to participants in a very important way,” said Laura. “We are making a commitment not only to help participants with primary and secondary educational needs, but also with the complex college application process, as well as any needs they have while in college. In my mind, it’s all connected and all really important.”

“I’m so thankful that everybody here at TASP wants to help you when you have problems,” said Angelica. “They give me hope. When things feel overwhelming and I talk to them, I feel better and then I think: ‘They’re right, I can do this.’”

Now that Angelica is attending college, her relationship with the after-school program is far from over. She comes back almost every day to be with the friends she has made there, continues to coordinate dance performances for TASP’s cultural festivals, and even attends the Teen Nights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to take advantage of the homework assistance as she learns to write college-level essays.

“When college participants come back to visit, this is what they talk about most: how important it is to have someone there when they need it, in addition to their parents, regardless of what the issue is,” said Laura. “Financial assistance is one critical rung on the ladder, but the safety net at the foundation helps give them the confidence to keep climbing.”

Angelica is considering a major in political science and eventually going to law school in Chicago, a city she fell in love with last year while visiting as part of TASP’s Annual College Tour. But she also might start her own dance studio in this neighborhood. “There aren’t really any studios in the Tenderloin” she said. “I think everybody knows how to dance in their own special way – they just need to feel the rhythm, and I love bringing it out of them.”

She knows she’s still young and is open to where her future might take her. “I’m going to wait to see what opportunities become available to me. My family thinks I’m crazy because I want to do so many things. But if I see an opportunity, I just want to take advantage of it,” she smiled.

What excites Angelica most is that other high school students at TASP will see her as a role model and will think of college as an option. “If I made it, then they will know they can make it too.”

“Angelica wants to create an impactful life,” said Laura. “She is passionate and caring and wants to make a difference in the world. I can’t wait to see what she achieves.” If you would like to help TASP students reach their goals for higher education, contact Jane Hatch at (415) 358-3946 or make an online gift to TNDC at www.tndc.org.