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Ya’el Courtney, ’19, always knew she wanted to go to college, but her life took an unexpected turn when she was 15 years old. Suddenly, she found herself in foster care, chaotically moving from place to place.

At 17, she was living on her own and supporting herself as a fast food manager. That year, she also discovered a “burning passion for neuroscience,” but to enter that field, she needed a college education.

Scholarship support helped bridge the financial gap and took her from dream to reality, and she’s grateful for the opportunities she received. See her full story below.