For the second consecutive year, Foshay Learning Center, a public high school located conveniently close to the University of Southern California (USC), has achieved a remarkable feat. It has sent more first-year students to USC than any other high school, solidifying its position as a key feeder into the prestigious university. This year, 21 bright students from Foshay matriculated at USC, building upon last year’s impressive count of 19.
Despite pursuing diverse academic paths at USC, the strong bonds forged at Foshay Learning Center remain unbreakable for these students. Yulimar Ramos, a freshman sharing a room with her Foshay best friend and fellow member of the USC Family of Schools, highlights this enduring connection. “We’ve been together since sixth grade,” Ramos explains. “It was a challenge to commit to the program, with Saturday school and summer sessions, but we navigated it together.” This shared journey underscores the unique support system fostered at Foshay Learning Center.
Nurturing Communities and Bridging the Gap to College
The success of Foshay Learning Center in preparing students for higher education is largely attributed to its exceptional college preparation program, the Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI). This impactful program is a collaborative effort between USC and the Los Angeles Unified School District. Impressively, 86 percent of the nearly 1,000 students who have completed the NAI program have gone on to enroll at four-year universities. Furthermore, over a third of these graduates have chosen to continue their academic journey at USC, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in guiding students toward this particular institution.
Kim Thomas-Barrios, Associate Senior Vice President of Educational Partnerships at NAI, emphasizes the collaborative spirit behind the program’s triumph. “It works because we work together,” she states. “It’s an intentional building of community. They have each other to lean on, so the challenges of college life won’t deter them.” This emphasis on community support is a cornerstone of the Foshay Learning Center and NAI approach.
Established in 1991, NAI is a comprehensive seven-year program designed to equip low-income students with the necessary tools and resources for college success. Expanding its reach, NAI also includes Lincoln High School in Lincoln Heights and Wilson High School in El Sereno, near USC’s Health Sciences Campus. The program anticipates celebrating its first graduating NAI cohorts from these high schools in 2021, further extending its positive impact on local communities.
“It’s growing, and college is now a common experience for families in our neighborhoods,” Thomas-Barrios notes. “That experience is shared knowledge, and they can discuss the college pathway with their neighbors because they understand it now.” This shift in community perception, facilitated by Foshay Learning Center and NAI, is fostering a college-going culture in areas where higher education was once less attainable.
From Shared Classrooms to Lifelong Bonds: The Foshay Family at USC
Angelica Vasquez, a first-generation college student and USC freshman, often finds herself alongside fellow Foshay Learning Center graduates Fatima Saravia and Samantha Suarez, highlighting the enduring friendships cultivated at Foshay. “It was every day, every class together,” Vasquez recalls. “After school, we were always at each other’s houses. We had extracurriculars together, too. We started celebrating birthdays together. Sometimes our moms would call each other to check on us, making sure we weren’t getting into trouble. They’d even get together after Saturday school for breakfast.” These shared experiences outside the classroom further strengthened the bonds between these students.
Samantha Suarez, a Norman Topping Scholar majoring in biomedical engineering, echoes the sentiment of strong peer support. “It feels good to have a support system you can go back to,” Suarez shares. “We were warned about the culture shock of college, but having a group of friends helps immensely.” This pre-existing network of friends from Foshay Learning Center provides a crucial buffer against the challenges of transitioning to university life.
Dedicated Educators and Lasting Impact at Foshay
Michael Laska, a teacher with over 25 years of experience at Foshay Learning Center, fondly remembers these USC freshmen. “I had them for tenth-grade math,” Laska says. “They were a tight-knit group. You can see it now as they’ve gone off to USC and are still together. That level of connection isn’t common everywhere.” Laska attributes these strong bonds to the shared dedication and sacrifices made by NAI students.
NAI students commit to advanced courses, labs, enrichment activities, classes on the USC campus, and college application preparation, starting as early as sixth grade, often sacrificing Saturdays and summers. “These students have been achieving at high levels since middle school,” Laska emphasizes. “They’ve done it together, building relationships over time, and now they have a future brimming with possibilities.” This sustained commitment and shared effort within the Foshay Learning Center and NAI program cultivates a unique sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
Embracing Imperfection and Inspiring Future College Aspirants
Yulimar Ramos, now pursuing psychology at USC, views her freshman year as an exploration phase, open to different academic avenues. She reflects on her academic journey at Foshay Learning Center, acknowledging that she wasn’t always a “perfect” student. However, she sees this experience as valuable, positioning her to guide others toward college.
“You have to try to lift up other students,” Ramos states. “People approach me, saying, ‘My child is struggling. You’re at USC, how did you achieve it?’ I tell them it’s not solely about grades. It’s about expanding your horizons, communicating effectively, and supporting others.” This spirit of sharing and mentorship is a key takeaway from Ramos’s time at Foshay Learning Center and within the NAI program.
“I know I’m here for a reason,” Ramos concludes. “It was a journey to get here, and even greater things are on the horizon in the next four years. My aspiration is to walk in commencement with my friends from Foshay. We’ve navigated everything together, and graduating together in 2021 will be an incredible accomplishment.” This collective ambition perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Foshay Learning Center: fostering not just individual success, but a community of scholars ready to achieve great things together.
