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Meet Marianna Ballesteros—Inspired Student, Innovative Mind and Great Teacher

“My guess is 10% of our senior class would not be applying to college unless Marianna had not supported them through it, and every senior in the class benefitted from Marianna's presence.” No, this isn’t a statement about a guidance counselor, principal or teacher on staff at Youth Empowerment School. Educator, Sameer Sampat, wrote the above statement in his nomination of Marianna Ballesteros for Peer Leader of the Year.

Ballesteros holds a deep love for her family and community—this includes her school family. She describes feeling “tiny butterflies” when she found out that both she and her classmate, Abbas Khalid had been nominated for the award. Ballesteros’ goal is to be a special education teacher. Educators at Youth Empowerment School say that she is better than having a Teaching Assistant. It is a mutual appreciation, as Ballesteros says that working closely with her teachers helped her to build beautiful relationships. They had given her so much, and she felt the need to give back “to build a stronger environment at [her] school.”

Marianna Ballesteros (right) was involved in planning and imlementing a Financial Aid activity night for students and families. She and Abbas Khalid (left) worked at the Work Study table determining if participants successfully self-advocated.

Armed with a binder of all things college and financial aid, Ballesteros would seek out her peers and turn to them with her excited smile, ready to sit down and help. “There was a point, when students would make appointments with her to get the help they need from everything to applications, FAFSA, scholarships to following through with the colleges,” wrote Afreen Malim, who taught Math at Youth Empowerment School. Ballesteros stayed after school with her peers and shared their nail-biting stress as deadlines approached. Yet, even when she talks about the stress of deadlines, helping others, and also staying on top of her tasks, she smiles. “Seeing the lack of support in my community inspired me to go above and beyond to support my peers and wonderful teachers,” said Ballesteros.

Ballesteros was announced as the College Summit Northern California Peer Leader of the Year on May 26, 2010 at a ceremony sponsored by Darden Restaurants. She was presented with a plaque, Olive Garden gift card, a Macbook, and sent to Miami, FL for a training with select Peer Leaders from all the College Summit regions. “The leadership training that I received in Miami was outstanding,” said Ballesteros. “I got the opportunity to meet [College Summit co-founder] Derek Canty who is amazing. He inspired me to go above and beyond with the things I’m doing, especially to trust myself.”

Ballesteros was chosen by educators at her school to attend a four-day College Summit workshop at University of California, Merced in 2009. She just started her Freshmen year at San Francisco State University, and is looking forward to getting involved with groups on campus and meeting new friends.

Alexandria Bridgett (left) also attended the Miami Leadership Training and represented Northern California along with Marianna Ballesteros (right).

Peer Leaders Help Decode Financial Aid Process

High schools were busy in the fall as students finalized college lists, researched deadlines, and hit the "Submit" button on their college applications. Now, all they had to do was wait for college acceptance envelopes in the mail, right? Not exactly. Conversations immediately transitioned to finding money for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Read the full story and visit our Photo Gallery.

Northern California First Peer Leader Academy

College Summit Northern California held the region's first Peer Leader Academy on October 17, 2009 in Oakland, CA.  Holding an event for all the Peer Leaders in the region has long been a goal of the staff.  Excited Peer Leaders came from all directions of Oakland and a group even carpooled from Stockton.  It was an opportunity for Peer Leaders to reunite and also meet Peer Leaders who attended different summer workshops.
 
The activities were designed to help Peer Leaders plan their Senior Year, while also providing sessions to further develop their leadership abilities by practicing public speaking and learning practical tools to assist in planning and facilitating meetings. The fifty Peer Leaders mixed and mingled all day and dove into professional development.
 
First, in groups of six, Peer Leaders reviewed and processed the necessary steps for completing their senior year plan in a thoughtful, organized, and supportive process. Groups discussed at length what was needed for each step of the way and both what their resources are and how they can be resources themselves. Peer Leaders learned key elements of this coming year and also beautifully exhibited the art of collaboration, discussing and sharing their personal experiences with one another.
 
[I learned the] process of staying on task because we need to stay on task for our senior year
 
The senior road map made me realize there's still a lot to do and a lot to ask but if I need help I just got to ask
 
[It] really helpful because I got to learn from others and share out our knowledge about the college process
 
After lunch, Peer Leaders practiced public speaking, facilitation skills, providing feedback to peers, and learned the art of facilitating meetings and creating agendas. Peer Leaders modeled their skills for one another and coached each other on improving, so that upon return to their schools, their leadership would be taken to the next level.

I found the tools we received to help facilitate our [Peer Leader] meetings
 
The public speaking piece [was most useful] because it is something that will greatly benefit [us]
 
I found the speaking one very useful; people have good feedback
 
The day ended with Peer Leaders reflecting about what they have done and still need to do, and with the important message that they are not alone in this process and have many lifelines of support. It was clear that when the NorCal team waved goodbye that afternoon, we were sending off youth who were motivated, figuring out how to be ready and bring the positive energy back to their schools.

I will help my peers by teaching them what I recently learned
 
I feel that I am going to be more prepared and more confident
 
I will put all of these tools to action when it comes to our meetings at my school
 
I will use these tools to lead peer meetings better and powerful
 
I will use the strategies to keep me on track and help my fellow peers
 
We are so proud of the youth that came out that day, and those who continue to work with their peers and adults at partner schools to increase college going culture. The Peer Leader Academy's work was only part of the continuing path for them personally and all of us as a community, and we look forward to working and looking forward together.

Thank you to Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, Trader Joe's, and Subway for your generous discounts and donations.

Photos from the event can be found in the Photo Gallery.