Hello RTE Supporters,
My name is Madeleine. The start of my college career was difficult as it coincided with the start of the covid pandemic. Needless to say, it was a challenging time to be transitioning from high school to college. Students were logging in from their bedrooms in their family homes. Social life was non-existent. There was no sense of community. But I persevered, working toward my goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Administrative Studies!
The return to an in-person class schedule in my third year of college made all the difference. My last two years have been much more normal. Finally I found my community on campus. Making friends was so much easier because I joined campus clubs focused on community issues and future careers, including a pre-professional group called Women and the Law. My interest in the law continued to grow after doing an internship at a law firm. I hope to become a corporate attorney in the future.
I am grateful to Paly for setting me up for success in college. In addition, I am extremely grateful to Rise Together Education for my scholarship. The funds helped me with my living expenses at UCR. My RTE mentor, Kimberly Schwan, helped to answer questions throughout my college years. She helped me gain knowledge and guidance about college, the job market, internship resources and other opportunities.
I urge you to donate to RTE to help students like myself, who have had to work to get to college and overcome challenges along the way. Please consider making a financial gift during RTE’s annual fundraising week. It makes such a difference to me and my fellow scholars.
Best wishes!
Madeleine
University of California, Riverside, Class of 2024
Political Science and Administrative Studies
Paly, Class of 2020
