“People see it as negative and something that needs to be hidden away - but putting it out there, saying ‘I’m undocumented and I’m getting my degree and continuing my education’ is really important.”
Isabella is a First Ascent Scholar at the David Eccles School of Business at The University of Utah.
She’s a Bright Futures participant and a graduate of Park City High School (2024) – achieved while she worked full-time and earned six scholarships to fully fund her college education.
Isa is also undocumented.
Her record of accomplishments is impressive for a young adult of any status, but attention should be paid: her hard work to get to this point is nothing short of staggering.
“It’s hard to even think about going to college, there are so many barriers and things blocking us,” Isa said. “Not being able to get FAFSA is one of the biggest things. And the stigma around documentation is a major barrier. We’re seen as people who come here and steal jobs, people who are bad for the economy and don’t do anything.”
“The reality,” she continued, “is that there are so many young people who want to learn and grow and continue their education. To get jobs in our communities and to build the economy.”
It’s hard to know how to talk about documentation, even in this community, which is unequivocally richer - in every way - thanks to many immigrants who call Park City home. But when things are hard, it’s even more critical to address them.
And for Isa, it’s important to reach other undocumented students - to show them getting to and through college is possible - and to provide a sort of road map of options.
With the full, joyful support of her family, Isa (along with her older sister, a Bright Futures student at Utah State University) cleared her path to college. It looked a little something like this:
- First Ascent Scholarship
- Dream US Scholarship
- Bright Futures’ Range Scholar
- Bright Futures Scholarship
- MAC Scholarship
- Mountainlands Community Scholarship
It came as a surprise when she was notified she’d earned the full-ride First Ascent scholarship.
“I kind of forgot about it! It took a while to hear back because everyone had issues with FAFSA, so I was shocked.”
When she learned her education was fully funded, she was able to lay some of her burden to rest.
“I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t know how I would ever pay for it. I’m not eligible for FAFSA, so figuring that out was one of my biggest worries.
Isa worked throughout high school and ramped up to full-time her senior year. This was as she took her high school classes, AP classes, and concurrent enrollment courses that landed her on campus this fall with 23 credits already banked. The Dream Big class at PCHS played a key role in her academic success.
“I feel like I still haven’t processed it. Not worrying about the money stuff - it’s kind of amazing.”
Not that that means she won’t be working on campus…
In addition to her courses - Isa plans to be a Nurse, with a minor in business - she has already started thinking about a job.
“My parents love that I’m in college - they’ve always been supportive of it. They’re here to give help but I don’t want to give them financial burdens.”
For Isa, nursing combines all her passions.
“I love the science part of it. I’m into chemistry and biology - but I also really do care for people and love helping others out. I’m both a student and a teacher - I also love teaching others and explaining.”
The love for nursing and biology runs in the family. Her mom used to be a nurse but wasn’t able to continue her career in Utah. Isa’s older sister is a biology major. And while her younger sister, a Bright Futures junior at PCHS, plans to become a nurse, too, Isa makes sure to say they’re not feeling any pressure about it.
“My mom is supportive and loving, and she doesn’t care what we do as a career. She just loves that we are going to college and learning. She taught us - she implemented it - education is REALLY important. To be educated and to know what you’re talking about - it’s massively important.”
BRIGHT FUTURES
Isa points to PCEF’s Bright Futures as the reason she was able to earn a full-ride scholarship - and narrows that down to one person in particular. Lindsay Carreto graduated from PCHS in 2020 - and is a Bright Futures alum herself. (Read Lindsay's story here!)
“Lindsay is a great mentor. In the beginning, working with her brought a feeling of relatability: here’s someone who is like me, who has done what I want to do. My parents are always so supportive, but Lindsay gave me a really specific kind of support - she’s been through this - and I believed her.”
“She always supported my decisions,” Isa continued. “She gave me valuable information about how things work and she encouraged me to go for First Ascent. Lindsay told me I could do it. And I did it! Without her, without Bright Futures, I wouldn’t be here.
My main thing - to show my community that you can do it. Sometimes we all need the motivation to do something. We are all capable of being where I am.”
And as for the hard work it took to get here?
“I just did it. I like doing things with people, and a lot of my friends were in Bright Futures with me, so a lot of it was fun. It wasn’t like a chore, Bright Futures gives you a sense of friendship and a bonding experience - which always makes it easier to do hard things.”
“Continue with education. I find education to be something really important - no matter what you are passionate about, learning is fun. It’s great to have all this knowledge in your hands - learn more, get a master’s and doctorate.”
“Especially in the Latino community,” Isa concluded. “We need to normalize higher education and pursue it. We need to be ok with wanting to learn more.”
