Stefania Ibarra currently attends Contra Costa College where she is majoring in Geography. She is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Public Schools and intends to become a teacher so she can help students from her community learn more about the world and the opportunities it offers.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Is there anything in particular that motivates you as you go through college and prepare yourself for a career?

A:  As a first-generation immigrant family, I was always told that education was important and to always keep college and higher education in mind. I always knew I wanted to go to college, I just didn’t know what I wanted to to study exactly. But, I knew I wanted to help people. I want to help young kids and/or high schoolers learn, so I decided I wanted to become a teacher.

Q: How has Richmond Promise played a role in your education?

A: Richmond Promise has always played an important role in my college life by just making sure that I’m doing what I have to do to in order to be successful and being there to support me whenever I need it. Richmond Promise has provided a community for me and has allowed me to learn more about what the college experience is.

Q: Why did you choose to be a Richmond Promise Summer Associate and what are you hoping to take from the experience?

A: I chose to be a Richmond Promise Summer Associate because I want to be more involved in my community and help out wherever I can.

Q: What do you want to contribute to Richmond and/or the world?

A: I want to give back to my community by becoming a teacher, helping young minds grow and supporting my community the same way my community supported me. Touching the few lives that I can and being able to make an impact in my community or for those individuals that I help can make such a big difference in so many lives.

Q: Can you tell us about your current college experience?

A: Currently I’m in the phase of college where I’m becoming more stable in college, not being as confused and becoming more secure about what I want to do because the first year I was really not sure about what I wanted to do.

Q: What are you looking forward to after receiving your bachelor’s/transferring?

A: I’m looking forward to being able to be proud that I was able to move forward in my educational career and be able to further help my community.