As we enter graduation season, many California students are preparing for the next step in their lives. Black College Success (BCS) is helping high school students transition into college by providing them with resources, helping the scholars make successful transitions into college life. BCS held their “End of Year Celebration: Black Minds, Brilliant Futures,” recognizing the hard work and dedication of 350 high school seniors as they embark on their next chapter in higher education. Students Ronnell Sanford and Kaaria Lopez-Spears spoke to Our Weekly about reaching their milestone.
Sanford, a graduate of View Park Charter Preparatory High School, views this moment in his life as a sign of the growth that lies ahead. “It feels like an achievement, probably one of the biggest in my life. I’ve been through so much physically and mentally, and that cap symbolizes a release point—I’m truly ready to grow.”
Lopez-Spears, a graduate of Alexander Hamilton Senior High School, is preparing to embrace the next step in her journey. “I think it will be very unreal for me. I think it’s a bittersweet moment, to be honest with you. I’m not ready to be an adult, but I am ready to grow my wings and get out of this city. It’s going to be a good challenge for me to understand who I am as a woman.” She said, “So, in some parts, I am excited, but I’m just going to miss all my friends here and all the connections I made.”
Both students appreciate BCS and their mentors as they guided them through important parts of their high school careers. “They’ve been like a parent to me,” Sanford said about the program. “They’re there to support me whenever I need it, whether I’m having a breakdown or need help with college stuff. They’re always there like my mom, so it’s a motherly program to me.”
Lopez-Spears credited Associate Director Gerrel Sayles with helping her through college admissions. “Without Mr. Gerrel, I don’t know how I would have done it. He has guided me. He checked that my spelling was right, my grammar was correct, and helped me answer the prompt correctly. I know they’re going to continue to support me when I go off to college.”
Lopez-Spears learned about BCS from her sister, who was part of the program at Hamilton High School and introduced her to Sayles. Sanford learned about BCS when College Access Manager Dedreiana Elliott visited his school to discuss the program. This garnered his initial interest, and he has not regretted following his curiosity.
BCS’s main goal is to support students and help them understand that college is an option regardless of their background or upbringing. These two students benefited from that message as neither saw college as an option before joining the program. “Early in high school, I already decided that college wasn’t an option because I didn’t want to go into debt,” Lopez-Spears said. “But thanks to BCS and their resources and influence, it became an option.” Sanford seconded that notion as BCS was his motivation to reach the next level in his education.
Both students want underclassmen to take full advantage of BCS and not shy away from adversity or hard work because doubting yourself will do nothing for you and your future.
Lopez-Spears will attend Howard University in the fall, double majoring in Molecular Biology and Theater Arts. Sanford is double-majoring in musical theater and mechanical engineering at Cal Baptist University.
To learn more about BCS, you can visit their site at https://www.blackcollegesuccess.org/