Meet Abby, an Anthropos Arts senior student. This talented and motivated young lady joined the program back in 7th grade after her parents moved to Mexico. She moved in with her aunt and uncle in order to finish school and has been living with them ever since. She says it’s challenging being away from her parents and siblings. And although her aunt and uncle have helped her out a lot, it’s not the same as having a solid family base; something which is crucial during adolescence.
Luckily, she had a band director that cared enough about her to connect her with Anthropos Arts. Here, she would have access to mentors that would coach her musically and provide her with whatever direction she needed. Shortly after joining the program, Abby was paired with her mentor, Raul Vallejo, who helped her gain the confidence and vision to forge ahead with clear goals. Under Raul’s tutelage, Abby was able to master the trombone. “He is a great teacher that helped me be a better musician. He gave me the confidence to be a section leader and a model for the other band members,” says Abby. Raul has encouraged her to keep pushing herself and remain positive. This has served her well over the years and it reflects in her accomplishments. Abby is a certified Pharmaceutical and Nursing Assistant. She works three jobs and volunteers at a children’s museum during her free time. She is valedictorian of her class and has multiple colleges knocking at her door offering her scholarships. And although college was always the goal, she never imagined all the possibilities. Abby says, “I always thought that my only option was Austin Community College because of financial reasons, but with the scholarships I have gotten, it’s made it possible to go UT Austin.” Abby plans to study biochemistry and Spanish while fulfilling premedical coursework.
Abby is proof that with mentorship, young people have a better chance of succeeding. Having positive role models has helped her become who she is today. “Not living with my parents has served as a motivation to be greater. I can only rely on myself to get to where I want to. There are times when I want to give up and go the easy path, but then I remind myself that hard work pays off and that I don’t want to let myself down,” she says.
At Anthropos Arts, we are so incredibly proud of Abby and all she has accomplished. The sky’s the limit for her and we wish her the best of luck in all she does.
