From Sacramento to Trinity College: Isa’s Journey of Belonging, Growth, and Ambition

Isa, a College Track Sacramento scholar, has seen the movie Lady Bird 11 times. The story, about a young woman growing up in the California capital and longing to see the world, resonates deeply with her. “I knew that in order to reach my full potential, I had to leave Sacramento,” she says. Isa knew she wanted to go to a small liberal arts school where she would have a well-rounded academic experience. Her College Track counselor suggested she look into Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut — a school she knew nothing about. A College Track partner, Trinity has committed to creating pathways for cohorts of scholars and supplying ample financial support.

When Isa flew out for a tour, she quickly bonded with another Hispanic College Track scholar from Los Angeles. Today, they are freshmen at Trinity and the best of friends, providing each other with invaluable social and emotional support at a predominantly white institution.  “To have someone like that on campus is such a nice feeling. I feel like I belong because of her.”

She also has the support of her personal College Track coach, who has been instrumental in connecting her with resources on and off campus. With a sense of belonging and guidance when she needs it, Isa is free to dream big — and she does. Author and professor are among the potential careers she sees for herself, as well as anthropologist for National Geographic, which she has fond memories of watching as a child. “I feel like it makes education accessible to everyone in an entertaining way, so I want to be a part of that,” Isa says. And she is already working to make those dreams a reality. Isa is currently writing an article about her move-in experience for the student newspaper, and is hoping to publish something in the school magazine as well. She’s also developing relationships with her professors, earning their trust in the hopes of participating in research projects when the time comes.

She credits College Track with spurring her to think about what she was passionate about and what she wanted to pursue at an early age. “It’s kind of hard to grasp the idea that you should be thinking about the future when you’re 14, but in our world you have to,” says Isa. “I feel like starting those conversations is the most important thing because it gives you direction.”

Beyond her own ambitions, Isa has a larger hope for the future that includes all of us. “I just wish for us to be more accepting,” she says. “Not only accepting, but educated about our differences. A lot of divisiveness comes from being ignorant. When we make an active effort to educate not only ourselves, but other people about our differences, we learn to appreciate and to accept what makes us different — and find unity in diversity.”