World Language is one
of the 4 high schools in
Little Village High School.

"Get as involved
as you can."
says Rafael.

GEAR UP Site Manager,
Khadeejah Lasuc and
Chicago Public School
Post-secondary Coach,
Keith Lewis.

The Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science (AHETEMS) Foundation (pronounced a-teams) mission is to develop educational
enrichment and academic
outreach initiatives, for Latinos from pre-college to PhD.

Rafael outside the GEAR UP office at Little Village High School.

Rafael is a very self determined student, says Keith Lewis, GEAR UP Post-secondary Coach, “not only in terms of what he wants to do, but in doing it.”  He shows up every day at the GEAR UP office at World Language High School to access his online AP Chemistry and AP Latin classes.  Not many students his age have the determination and discipline to take and pass online classes.  Rafael admits it’s a mixed bag.  You get to work at your own pace, but you’re on your own, he says, “You have to stay focused.”

He’s narrowed his college choices down to four.  He learned at a three day GEAR UP College Camp, organized by Ms. Lasuc that there are funds for both private and public universities.  So he has applied to both.  His final list includes Ashford University in Iowa, University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois State University and Monmouth College in Illinois.  He’s considering the teaching profession, but he also likes the idea of studying engineering.  He’s interested in field work.

Rafael has cousins who’ve gone to college in Mexico, but he will be the first in his family to go to college in the United States.  As the oldest of 3, he’s setting the bar for the rest of the family.  He’s also helping other students at school focus on their college choices.  He’s one of the GEAR UP Ambassadors at World Language High School.  These are student leaders who are helping other seniors get moving on their college, FAFSA and scholarship applications.

Advice that he has for other students coming through World Language High School?  “Get as involved as you can,” says Rafael.