Surprised by friends and teachers, a Boston teenager had a life-changing moment at school. Yessica Calderon is a dreamer, a child of undocumented immigrants, and has a 4.8 GPA at East Boston High School. She has dreamed of attending college, but as graduation drew closer, her chance grew smaller. Calderon’s mom is a factory worker, and simply could not afford the cost of tuition, and since Calderon is a dreamer, she is not eligible for federal financial aid. “There are nights where I would cry, not knowing what I would do with my future,” Calderon said. But that changed on Tuesday, when Regis College made her dreams come true and offered her a full scholarship. The scholarship, worth $156,000, is in partnership with Boston Scholar Athletes, a non-profit that helps urban youth get into college. “I want to thank my teachers for believing in me,” Calderon said. “I personally did not believe in myself, but they did.” With her path set, she has a message for others like her. “Don’t give up, you can do it,” Calderon said. “You have a purpose in life and you should not feel down. Don’t feel less just because you don’t have the same opportunities.”

Surprised by friends and teachers, a Boston teenager had a life-changing moment at school.

Yessica Calderon is a dreamer, a child of undocumented immigrants, and has a 4.8 GPA at East Boston High School. She has dreamed of attending college, but as graduation drew closer, her chance grew smaller.


Calderon’s mom is a factory worker, and simply could not afford the cost of tuition, and since Calderon is a dreamer, she is not eligible for federal financial aid.

“There are nights where I would cry, not knowing what I would do with my future,” Calderon said. But that changed on Tuesday, when Regis College made her dreams come true and offered her a full scholarship.

The scholarship, worth $156,000, is in partnership with Boston Scholar Athletes, a non-profit that helps urban youth get into college.

“I want to thank my teachers for believing in me,” Calderon said. “I personally did not believe in myself, but they did.”

With her path set, she has a message for others like her. “Don’t give up, you can do it,” Calderon said. “You have a purpose in life and you should not feel down. Don’t feel less just because you don’t have the same opportunities.”