Teresa Lopez wants to be a teacher. Andrea Gonzalez dream of working as a veterinarian, Savy Zavala sees herself as a pediatrician. Elizabeth Flores is an aspiring chef.
All of these young Latinos — recent graduates from high schools in the Los Angeles area — will get some help with their ambitions thanks the scholarships they recently received from the International Council on Education, Art and Culture, which is also known by its Spanish acronym of CIEAC. The non-profit organization makes educational scholarships for young Latinos a focal point of its mission, and held the recent ceremony on May 19 at Montebello City Hall, just a few miles east of Downtown Los Angeles.
The $500 scholarship might be relatively small compared to the costs of college these days, but they say they can do plenty with the money.
"For me, this is a lot of help that I will need to buy my books, and any aid is good," says Zavala, who attended St. John Bosco High School in the nearby city of Bellflower, a few miles east of Downtown Los Angeles. "I appreciate it, and it's the beginning of something more."
Zavala thanked CIEAC members for the scholarship — and his parents for supporting him in his education. He said he wants to become a pediatrician because he likes helping children. Before, he wanted to be a police officer, but this year he decided that his vocation is helping children with their health.
Likewise, Elizabeth Flores, a graduate of Schurr High School in Montebello, said that a year ago she decided to study to be a chef when she finished high school.
"A year ago I knew that I wanted this career, because I saw how my mom cooked in the restaurant, and since then, I liked everything," Flores said. "My mom [asks me] if I'm sure this is what I want, and my dad tells me it's OK, if it's what I want."
Elizabeth's mom — Alicia Torres — accompanied her to receive the scholarship. Torres said the career her daughter has chosen is difficult. Torres should know — she once owned a local restaurant called Super Taco.
"I bought a restaurant in East Los Angeles," Torres said. "It's a difficult job that requires a lot of work and dedication, always."
There is an upside, though.
"It is also very nice and satisfying when people enjoy the food," Torres said.
Torres said the scholarship will help her daughter learn one of the harder parts of the restaurant business.
"I only lasted six months in the restaurant because I got in without having studied what a business was, how to keep books, and do the kitchen work," Torres said. "That's why it's difficult. I advised her to study, to focus and always make an effort to offer her best."
Flores will study to be a chef at the California School of Culinary Arts (CSCA) in Pasadena, where a year of schooling costs approximately $50,000.
"Thank you for the scholarship, and I will apply again next year," the young Flores told the CIEAC directors, who wished the young people success in their education.
Mireya Olivera is editor of Impulso.
Photos by Impulso
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