A Dream Fulfilled
My name is Lisvet Luceno and I am a senior at Golden Gate High School and I am in the Take Stock in Children Scholarship and Mentoring program.
When I first met Patsy Carter, who would become my mentor through high school, I realized I had never encountered anyone with a warmer, more comforting smile. I looked forward to meeting with her every week. She was my source of advice, comfort, and more importantly the ears that I needed when all I sought was someone to ramble on to about high school drama. I would have never guessed that an adult, American born, successful woman would have anything in common with a reckless, Cuban teen. She understood the pressure coming from my family to succeed and what it felt like to struggle to get up after a failure. She could appreciate facing adversity and overcoming obstacles. She had lived it as well. Nothing feels better than knowing that you’re not alone.
When I brought up the idea of participating in a summer study-abroad program, she was a little apprehensive, but after seeing the details, agreed that this would be the chance of a lifetime. She was with me through the application process and the pre-departure as well. She wrote a glowing letter of recommendation to the program and helped me look through the application. When I received the news I had been accepted into the program, she embraced me so hard that I thought my lungs would pop!
I, of course, had never been on such a long trip, so Patsy was the most valuable source of information on how to pack. Without her I probably would have left my passport in my checked baggage and my clothes would have made it to Botswana without me.
I was one of 300+ from around the globe working in the program The Experiment in International Living. I chose to travel to Botswana, Africa where I stayed for five weeks immersing myself in and embracing the culture.
My trip confirmed my desire to help people and living amidst such a lifestyle created a permanent mark on my awareness of global issues and the mentality with which I would approach these subjects in the future. In just a short five weeks, the entire course of my life had been altered. My thought processes, emotions, global perception—everything changed.
My goals now include being accepted into college, being admitted into medical school, then working with Doctors Without Borders and returning to Africa. Without the support from my friends, family and importantly Patsy, I don’t know if I would have gotten this opportunity. I now know what I expect from myself and what my goals are, and thanks to Take Stock in Children and their support I know these dreams are possible. Learn more about becoming a mentor.
