When I started at Claremont McKenna College (CMC) this past fall as a first-generation college student from Denver, I knew I was in for a big transition. While many of my fellow classmates had parents to help them adjust to the unfamiliar world of college, I was essentially alone when I got to campus.
But I was extremely fortunate to have graduated from DSST: Cole High School, part of the DSST Public Schools charter network, which exposed me to rigorous academic expectations, challenging coursework and most importantly, teachers who believed in me and wanted me to succeed.