Where are they now?
Over the past 24 years, countless youth who attended Hope Street’s After-School Program have gone on to do extraordinary things, in spite of often overwhelming personal and systemic barriers to success. Today, we’d like to introduce you to one of these special people.
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Jimena Torres joined Hope Street as a 3rd grader. Reflecting back, Jimena said, “I don’t think I realized the importance of being in a space that fosters growth and encourages exploration at that age. All I can remember is having fun and always looking forward to the end of the school day to attend Hope Street. There was always something new to do - every day was a new adventure.”
One of Jimena’s fondest memories is a weekly pool tournament organized by the staff. “I always got super competitive and wanted to beat the guys at playing pool (spoiler, I never did). I spent all week practicing after I was done with my homework. The Wreck (Recreation) Room, as we called it then, was the place to be. I might not have won a single tournament but I always got closer."
Things were not always easy for Jimena. As she entered her teenage years, she said, “I think one of my biggest challenges was transitioning into adolescence and confronting the different challenges and responsibilities that would come with becoming an adult. Without realizing it, Hope Street was preparing me to confront the world as we know it.
During my high school years, the older kids had the opportunity to do a rope course. I learned so much about myself and faced my fears head-on. Through this experience, I learned that most of the time you are your biggest enemy and it takes courage to take a leap of faith. But most importantly, that it is okay to fall because there is a group of people waiting to pick you up. The phrase, ‘It takes a village,’ took on a different meaning that day.”
Gina Avila, Hope Street’s Youth Center Education Coordinator, remembers Jimena as an especially tenacious student, “Jimena was always worried about getting her algebra homework done. It always struck me how committed she was to her education and actually learning and grasping what she was working on. She wouldn’t just go through the motions - she really wanted to learn algebra!” Gina also remembers Jimena for her kindness and compassion and “having the sweetest personality.”
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Jimena excelled in high school both in the classroom and on the soccer field. She received a bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and is now a first-year graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Teacher Education Program. She spent this past summer doing a residency with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and is also working on a Bilingual Dual Education certification.
When asked why she chose the field of education, Jimena explained, “I’ve been so fortunate to have caring and inspiring educators throughout my life that I feel it is only right that I provide the same care and inspiration for the youth.” In addition to managing a rigorous course load, Jimena serves as a club soccer coach for the 2008 Downtown Soccer Club Girls.
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