Vanesa Perea, who enrolled at Excel Academy
East Boston in the fifth grade and graduated from Excel Academy High School in
June, will begin her studies at Harvard University as a member of the incoming
Class of 2023.
Admission to the world’s most prestigious college culminated an eight-year journey of educational enrichment and academic achievement for high honor roll student Vanesa Perea at the Excel charter schools, whose mission is to prepare students to succeed in high school and college, apply their learning to solve relevant problems, and engage productively in their communities.
Perea, whose parents, Jose Perea and Luz
Piedrahita, are originally from Colombia, was a shining example as a member of
the first graduating class at Excel,
which opened its new high school on Bremen Street in East Boston at the beginning
of her sophomore year.
She attended the Kelly School in Chelsea
through grade four before entering Excel in the fifth grade.
Many accomplishments and school activities at Excel
Excel does not select a class valedictorian
or have an academic ranking system, but Vanesa’s achievements in all aspects of
school life speak for themselves.
She had an outstanding grade point average
and received a number of academic honors
including the school’s Mathematics Award and National Honor Society Award. She
was treasurer of the National Honor Society.
This year Vanesa took Advanced Placement
courses in Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and Literature and
Composition. Other AP courses were taken in Language and Composition, U.S.
History, Biology, Spanish, and World History in her two prior academic years.
“I like STEM,” said Vanessa, explaining the
concentration of courses in science and mathematics.
Vanesa also took her talents to the athletic
fields where she competed in varsity soccer and served as team captain for two
seasons. She was also a member of the Excel track team.
One
of her most recognized accomplishments was founding the school newspaper, “The
Howler,” and serving as editor of the publication. The school presented a
graduation award named in honor of Vanesa and her classmate, Evelyn Rodriguez,
the other co-founder of the newspaper. That award went to the newspaper’s
founding duo.
She was the backstage director for the Music
Club and served on the Student Council for two years.
Vanesa also volunteers as an English tutor for
immigrants at a center in East Boston.
Receiving the acceptance letter from Harvard
Vanesa applied to Harvard in its Restrictive
Early Action program. She received notification of her acceptance in December.
“December 13,” said Vanesa, recalling the
day she learned that the next stop in her career would be in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. “I was very excited. I called my mom and I said, ‘Mom, I did
it!’
She had enjoyed the positive learning
experiences at the Crimson Summer Academy and the summer classes at Harvard she
took last summer in Introduction to Biomedical Ethics and Expository Writing.
She is considering a major in Biology,
Chemistry, Applied Mathematics and Economics at Harvard.
“I’m going to explore a little and see which
field of study I really like so that I can end up doing something that I’m
passionate about,” related Vanesa, who may pursue a pre-medical school path or
a future career in consulting. She has received a full scholarship from Harvard.
Praise for her teachers and college counselor
Vanesa said she was grateful to the teachers
at Excel, particularly her junior-year Mathematics teacher, Sarah Hafele.
“Ms. Hafele is a lot like me – I really love
math and she shares that passion,” said Vanesa. “I like math tutoring so I
asked her if I could tutor some of her math students. During my senior year we
started a math tutoring, honors pre-calculus program which went really well.
She’s a very kind person.”
Vanesa also credited Excel counselor Nicole
Repp for her assistance and guidance in the college application process (Vanesa
was also accepted in to the UMass/Amherst honors program).
“Ms. Repp began advising me in my junior
year and working on essay preparation and she was very helpful,” said Vanesa.
This summer, Vanesa is teaching Mathematics
at the Excel Academy summer program in Chelsea.
Support and encouragement from CSC member
Kelly Garcia
One of Vanesa’s proud supporters at Excel is
schoolteacher Kelly Garcia, a Latina member of the Chelsea School Committee
(CSC).
“I heard Vanesa’s story and I wanted to let
the people know – she’s from Chelsea and she makes us all proud,” said Garcia.
“There are many obstacles against us, but she is one that is breaking all
barriers and stereotypes and I want her to be celebrated and recognized in her
beautiful city of Chelsea.”
Garcia said she hopes Vanesa’s success story
as the daughter of immigrants “will
inspire students to keep working hard and know that anything is possible if you
put your mind to it.”
Gratitude to her parents
Vanesa’s father, Jose, is a driver for a
senior center while her mother, Luz, is a teaching assistant at an early
childhood learning center.
“My parents have set a great example for me
with their hard work,” said Vanesa. “They are my motivation.”
Another positive role model is her older
brother, Jhonatan, a Chelsea High School graduate who just received his degree
in Biology from Boston University. He works at the Boston Medical Center.
“Jhonatan set a very good example,” lauded Vanesa.
“I never knew the extent of how good a role model he was until I went through
my own college process and realized how incredible a school Boston University
is. He accomplished it first and I want to be like him.”
Looking back at
her career in the Excel system, Vanessa said, “I’m very happy I attended Excel.
It’s been a great experience. The people at Excel inspired me to pursue my
goals.”
Chelsea Soldiers’ Home awarded $100 million to
replace
See original article here:
An Excel-Lent Journey Chelsea’s Vanesa Perea Will Attend Harvard University