“When I was in high school, I felt like I didn’t have any guidance. I stumbled into my college experience by just following what others were doing.”

This is where our conversation started when I sat down with Crystal Lam, an AmeriCorps CalPrep member placed in the Fontana Unified School District.

Crystal’s parents made clear from a young age that she would go to college. However, that wasn’t because either of them had any college experience. Her parents were hard working, but they faced the challenges that come with limited education, and they recognized the opportunities that higher education would afford their children in the future.

Growing up in the City of Ontario, Crystal knew she needed to get into a good college, even though she didn’t know what a “good college” was.

Crystal stumbled through the application process and was accepted to UC San Diego. “It was a terrifying experience. I was going to be the first in my family to attend college and I felt I had to be a success for my brothers and cousins.”

Although she entered as biology major, she finished with a degree in Ethnic Studies and was studying in Vietnam when she found United Way’s AmeriCorps opportunity online. She said that right away she knew it would be part of her future.

“College and career readiness is something that I knew was really important. I now get to help students figure out what to do with the rest of their lives.”

Crystal leads a college readiness program at Birch High School in Fontana. 35 students are signed up to complete 10 weeks of workshops focused on career exploration, higher education options, financial aid, and action planning.

She has now seen students with little direction find their dream school and take their first steps toward a future career.

“I grew up in the Inland Empire and want it to become a more vibrant and dynamic place. We need to talk about getting an education and making this the best place it can be.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Crystal.

To help students in our community, visit www.MentorConnection.org or contact Meghan Meade at volunteers@ieuw.org.