Penny Gonzales-Soto
Colorado State University
Upward Bound Program
TRIO Upward Bound changed my life. Upward Bound came into my life at a time that I had absolutely not one thought of college. I was a straight A student, but there was no one in my family to even whisper the word “college.” I tell everyone who will listen that Upward Bound is the only reason I am where I am today. I am the eldest of five children of a single mother. We were a very low income family. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college. Until TRIO Upward Bound came into my life, I had no idea of who I was, wanted to be, or could dream of being. Upward Bound was the first time that I actually felt valuable. Someone had finally said to me that I could go to college, I could have a career, I could be successful, and I did not have to let money, background, or family history stand in my way. Very honestly, I didn’t know, at that time, that any of those things could hold me back. I very simply had not known to dream about my future. Dreams. That is what TRIO Upward Bound is really about. Upward Bound taught me to dream. I learned to value myself. I felt accepted and supported. I suddenly realized that I could have any future I wanted. I was suddenly dreaming about being a lawyer. I suddenly knew that someday I would be a Judge. I never doubted myself for a minute after TRIO Upward Bound came into my life.
