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Student story: Overcoming social obstacles to college

This student talks about overcoming their tough environment to succeed in school and make it to college. They mention how staying focused on their goals helped them avoid getting involved in negative activities. They emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself and concentrating on the future.

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Video transcript

- I don't know, most every kid on the block I grew up, I still go there now, I'm the only one that made it to college. The rest are already either in jail or just got out. So overcoming my environment was... I don't even know how to explain it. It was just huge for me, because, you know, when you grow up in a neighborhood, and you have friends, and, you know... then you start succeeding in school, and they don't, you don't really hang out with them as much, and then you notice that you're kind of looked at as an outsider, and some people might want to, you know, participate in some of the activities they're doing just because they feel like they have to prove who they are. I saw what I wanted to do, I knew what I wanted to do, and I knew what I didn't want to become. So I just had to stay focused on the future rather than what's going on now.