Given the advantages of legality, another major privileged I possessed my sophomore year of high school was being in a government funded program called USC Upward Bound. The program targeted underprivileged students, who aspire to go to college and provided us with the essential resources needed in order to be a competitive applicant. This program was my personal leverage that led me to UCLA. Moreover, the program provided students with many opportunities that included: taking college level courses at USC over the summer, preparing students for the SAT during junior year, and having an ongoing academic counselor throughout the student’s high school career. As a result, the classes I took benefitted me in college by earning sophomore standing my freshman year. The Upward Bound program was the foundation of my journey to college. My school lacked of college counselors but since I was an upward bound student I was privileged to meet with my counselor every week. Compared to non-upward bound students many struggled with the college application process. Due to my social capital, I was able to have my personal statement and drafts looked upon multiple times. Likewise, I had the luxury of someone to assist me through the whole college application process. Many of my success…show more content… As a student, with many advantages like legal status, family support, unproblematic identity in school, and being prepared for college by amazing advocates lead me to an eminent four year university. Unfortunately, many of my privileges are not given towards youths in my community due to the structural and symbolic violence embedded in our society. Thus, causing them to suffer and be perceived as unsuccessful or as criminals. Now as a UCLA student, I am granted with far more privileges by being recognized as an intelligent academic scholar, provided with a solid social and educational
