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Scholarships changes Foothill senior’s life & college plans — for the better

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A world of possibilities lie ahead of Deicy Gonzalez.
Deicy (pronounced “Daisy,” like the flower), a senior at Foothill High School, is one of only a few seniors nationwide chosen to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a scholarship program funded with a grant from the Bill and Melissa Gates (of Microsoft) Foundation.
But the good news doesn’t end yet.
This young scholar was actually awarded two scholarships. The second is a Dell Scholars Program scholarship, awarded annually to only 250 students.
With both scholarships, Deicy’s entire college education — including a doctorate degree — will be paid in full.
For Deicy — a petite, young Latina who speaks in a soft, slightly accented voice  — the scholarships are a life changing event. Without them, she would have been working in the fall and attending Bakersfield College, saving until she had enough money to transfer to Cal State Bakersfield.
Deicy will be the first in her family to attend college.
 “(The scholarships have) changed my life drastically,” said Deicy, who’s lived a portion of her life in Mexico. “Not only do I not have to pay anything for my education, but they will help me with technical support and tutor programs.
“I feel very excited and encouraged to succeed.”
And succeed she surely will, said Rebecca Farley, Deicy’s English teacher, mentor and the driving force behind Deicy’s becoming a scholarship recipient.
“Deicy is am amazing young lady,” said Farley, who is also the coordinator of Foothill’s International Baccalaureate program to which Deicy belongs. “She stands out from her peers because she has a determination to master all concepts in each class. 
“She pushes herself to be the very best, which means that she will stay after class or come in for tutoring if she has questions.”
Deicy will be attending UC Irvine, starting this summer. She plans to study psychology and later attend medical school to become a psychiatrist specializing in children and troubled youth.
A sure fit for Deicy, Farley says, considering her keen desire to mentor others and a fearless determination to voice her opinion.
“Deicy is an a typical teenager,” Farley observes. “She is a loyal friend and a mother figure to many of her peers. She is not reserved when she sees a friend making poor choices; Deicy lovingly confronts her friends when they start to stray from their goals and encourages them to be true to themselves.”
Deicy, a pretty, dark-haired, serious teen, exuberates a confidence that surpasses her years. She appears unperturbed when asked how she feels about leaving her family and friends to go away to school. With a “you have to do what you have to do” kind of attitude she explains that since her parents moved to California from Mexico, in part, so that she and her younger brother could receive a better education, she is determined to make a success of college.
She also wants to be a motivating factor for other young Hispanics — including her brother and cousins — to embrace loftier goals and make higher education a part of their lives, too.
The Gates and Dell scholarships are both designed to provide scholarships to minorities with financial need. In addition, the Dell Scholars college scholarship program — funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, a private family foundation — looks for students who have overcome obstacles and have proven an ability to achieve higher educational goals.
Recognizing these qualities in Deicy, Farley helped guide the young student through the scholarship application process and wrote letters of recommendations for her.
“Deicy … deserves an opportunity to pursue her dreams,” Farley said. “She has struggled with language barriers, financial barriers and several tragic life events yet she remains focused and hard working.
“While others might use these obstacles as excuses for having a bad attitude or rebelling, Deicy has taken the good she can from these experiences and used them to propel her on to success.”
To qualify for the scholarships, Deicy also had to prove herself academically — she has earned a 4.0 or better since her freshman year in high school — she was required to participate in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, and be involved in community service, to name just a few of the qualifying factors.
The young Latina is currently the vice president of the Bible Club at Foothill and president of La Raza, an on-campus club for Hispanic students. She’s an avid reader, watches the occasional movie when she has time and attends church at Centro Hispano Lamont.
Like most teens, Deicy has chores but says her school work always comes first.
“I don't remember a day when my mom ever said: ‘Do this chore before you do your homework,’” Deicy said. “School was always the priority in the house.”
Statistics show that higher education is becoming a higher priority in many Hispanic households today. In fact, a UC Davis study shows that the percentage of Hispanics entering college has risen significantly in recent years; however, only about 35 percent of Hispanics actually graduate.
Deicy hopes her own journey through the halls of UC Irvine, and the journeys of many young Hispanics like herself, will continue to stifle the stereotype that higher education is not a priority to Latinos. 
“I want to get rid of the idea that Hispanics don’t attend college,” she said.
Look out world, here comes Deicy Gonzalez!