Stories

Many of us are first-generation college students or are on a trajectory to becoming them. With that comes a whole bunch of firsts: first college applications, first time being away from home, and first time learning how to balance school, working, and a social life. Being tasked with paving the road for those that come after us is hard work. I had not considered any of that when I joined Mile High 360 as a 6th grader. Today, I am a proud college university graduate. Mile High 360 has been at my side every step along the way.

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Many of us coming from an Hispanic culture have difficulties getting past the taboo of seeking mental health assistance. I believe that if people are educated about, and attend to, strengthening their mental health, they will not only begin to realize it’s a positive thing, but it will also transform the way they look at life, putting themselves in a much better place to be successful.

I joined Mile High 360 as a 7th grader because my friends were members. I wasn’t even thinking about going to college. That all changed during my 11th grade summer school program at Phillips Exeter Academy, a life-changing opportunity that Mile High 360 enabled for me. My fellow students at Exeter were all talking about going to college. And because I was successfully completing the same academic work they were, I felt like I belonged on the path to college. It was really exciting.

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With Mile High 360’s support, my confidence at navigating middle and high school soared. But that all changed once I arrived at college, which was a totally different world for me in every aspect. Everything was a challenge: working with professors, social life, guiding my own learning, living far away from my family, and accessing financial aid. I was so fortunate to have access to Mile High 360’s dedicated postsecondary advisor during my college years. And with my fellow Mile High 360 members never far from reach, I was able to face each of these new challenges. I couldn’t have done it without them and their support.

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At 23 years old, I have been a member of Mile High 360 for more years than I have not. Mile High 360 is like a second family to me. A family that has so much experience with learning to go college and that is willing to share those experiences to help all of its members succeed.

In my junior year in high school, I decided to join Mile High 360 as a way to find community and guidance for what was next. I joined later than any other student had ever been allowed to and found a wonderful support system. After months of conversations about the benefits of attending a postsecondary institution and the beauty of finding my passion, I decided that going to college was for me.

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Attending college through the peak of a pandemic was not ideal and there were many times that I considered dropping out. The pandemic was terrible, but even more, I felt disconnected from my peers and my family. The academic expectations were so different from what I was used to. The financial pressure was a big load. Being a member of Mile High 360 throughout that time was critical because I had a community to speak with, to ask for help, to problem-solve and learn, and to visit with. Each month, Mile High 360’s postsecondary advisor visited me in-person on campus. I even got Mile High 360’s executive director playing games through Zoom with me while I was quarantining. That was amazing.

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Mile High 360 impacts students' lives in different ways, and I believe that it has uniquely impacted my life. I think of the ways it has encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, from backpacking in Wyoming to learning about sustainability in Puerto Rico. It has also allowed me to find internships and jobs and to learn valuable and employable skills, enabling me to grow in my dream field of study, education.

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Through Mile High 360, I have also been able to study abroad in Morocco and just this year Mile High 360 helped me earn $16,000 worth of scholarships. To me, Mile High 360 means opportunities, connections, and growth.

While I joined Mile High 360 as a 6th grader, it took until my senior year in high school to really trust the Mile High 360 staff members. Senior year was just so stressful. I felt like everything was going to fall apart. With Mile High 360, I worked through the stress, the anxiety, and the feelings of being lost about what to do next.

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I shared my wins and losses with Mile High 360 members and mentors. By the time I was 24, I had spent over half of my life with Mile High 360. To say that Mile High 360 was a huge part of my life is an understatement. Being a member of Mile High 360 wasn’t just about helping me improve myself. It was about helping me appreciate myself and helping me realize that I shouldn’t be scared to ask for help. Membership makes me feel like I matter.

One of my best friends, Carlo, told me about Mile High 360. The travel, cycling, and academic support sounded like a lot of fun. I didn’t know it when I joined but learned it over time – that I am a really good student and I actually like learning. I completed 8th grade as an “A” student. I try to attend Mile High 360 as often as I can. Not only do I attend after-school but I also attend weekend activities.

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At first, my parents saw Mile High 360 as just another after-school program, but as my grades improved and I asked to attend more and more, they realized it is so much more. Mile High 360 offers opportunities at every corner. I have built great friendships, get to talk with older Mile High 360 members who are deciding to go to college, raced bikes as a member of the 360 Cycling Team, and pushed myself through travel opportunities. I am taking every chance that I can because not that many people have these opportunities.

With my twin sister, Nasly, I joined Mile High 360 in 6th grade after encouragement from my mom. My older sister Cynthia is also a Mile High 360 member. She is now in college. Just like her, I noticed a big change in myself after joining. I was struggling academically, and I also wanted to become more active and social. Since joining Mile High 360, I am on my way to becoming a straight-A student and I am so much stronger, physically, and mentally. I completed the 37-mile Green Course at the Steamboat Gravel Grinder bike race as a 7th grader and then completed the 57-mile Red Course a year later.

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I really enjoy the physical activities Mile High 360 offers and appreciate their help with my homework. The summertime travel opportunities have been some of my favorites, even though they have been so challenging. Bike-packing up and down the eastern seaboard and backpacking through Alaska have encouraged me to believe that I can do anything.

As a first-generation college bound student from an immigrant family, it has been difficult to navigate the educational system, college in particular. For me, and I think each person’s experience is different, being a member of Mile High 360 has been crucial in helping me feel as though I belong in college. Through other Mile High 360 members who were already attending college, I had a much easier time finding a community of first-generation college students who could relate to and understand what I was going through.

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I’ve benefited from Mile High 360’s guidance through the application for scholarships, finding summer internships, and building my social capital through networking events. It has also pushed me out of my comfort zone, as I have been able to mentor middle schoolers and other, younger, first-generation college bound students.

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These experiences have reassured me that I am on the right path, as I am working toward my goal of becoming a therapist for middle school students.

My journey began when I was in 7th grade where I was introduced to Mile High 360 by a good friend. Coming from a household where only one of my parents graduated high school, I felt a lot of pressure. My parents always pushed education, but they were not always sure how to help. I didn’t understand it at the time, but it turns out that signing me up for Mile High 360 was very helpful.

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High school was eye-opening, and I faced many challenges but Mile High 360 was always there to help. With their assistance, I toured colleges, studied for the ACT exam, applied to several colleges, and identified scholarship opportunities. And the physical activity that I got a Mile High 360 helped me feel more comfortable with myself.

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With a full-ride scholarship, I attended Regis University, where I completed a double major in business and economics. For me, the college visits offered by Mile High 360 helped me visualize myself in college.

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I’ve since worked for a global professional services firm and am still a member of Mile High 360. Today I serve on the Executive Co-Leadership Team, helping guide the organization forward. Being a member of Mile High 360 was not always easy. There were times when I wanted to leave. But I stayed because of the strong friendships I developed with my peers. Those relationships will last a lifetime. I now want to give back to help ensure the organization’s success because of all that it did to empower me in my life.