This blog post is part of our celebration of charter school graduates across the country and their achievements. Join us in celebrating our #CharterGrads!
My name is Adrian Campos, and I am proud to graduate from PUC Lakeview Charter High School this year. Graduating high school with a college acceptance in hand is no small feat: I am the first in my family to go to college. My graduation is the culmination of one of the most important lessons I’ve had to learn—how to advocate for myself.
Throughout my high school career, I’ve watched my friends advocate for causes that held special importance in their lives. For some that cause was instituting a ban on plastic water bottles and for others it was raising awareness about school safety in America. For me, my education was my cause. I knew that if I wanted to have options in life, to be the first in my family to build a fulfilling career, I’d have to work harder than I ever have. As I pursued this cause, I realized that it was having positive effects on those around me. If I had concerns, I expressed them to teachers and administrators. If I had questions, I raised my hand. I saw that those who didn’t ask questions were at a disadvantage, but the answers I received often helped everyone in my class. This showed me that taking even the smallest steps can make you into a beacon for change.
Over the years, I encountered many obstacles, whether it was through my role as student body president or tackling the daunting, and at times overwhelming, task of completing college applications. Yet, I stopped at nothing to conquer these challenges because I knew the hard work would lead to a better future.
As I advocated for my education more and more, I realized that those around me were also willing to support me. My parents saw my ambition and they became my strongest advocates. My mom began going to the PUC Parent Center, a free resource center for parents, and started sharing what she learned with my dad. She took a workshop on college applications so she could understand what colleges were looking for. When asked why she was doing all of this she said, “I wasn’t able to dream as big as he was able to. Without the center, I wouldn’t have had the tools to support his dreams.”
My high school journey has sparked a fascination in me about humanity, community, and the potential we have when we choose to come together—uniting for a cause that matters to us and finding solutions as a team. I cannot wait to further dive into this interest of mine by studying anthropology at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) this fall. Ultimately, I’d like to work for a nonprofit organization that benefits my community, or a music company such as iHeartRadio or Spotify under their media and outreach department, as music is something I have found also brings people together in a common experience.
Adrian Campos is a graduate of PUC Lakeview Charter High School. In the fall he will attend UCLA to study anthropology.
[Click to Tweet] Recent @puclchs graduate Adrian Campos is set to be the first generation in his family to attend college, pursuing his passion for education! #CharterGrads
