Grad of the Week: A Bronx Immigrant Graduates to Fordham — Eyes Fixed on a Career in Social Justice
Throughout this month, we will be honoring a high school senior who is graduating each weekday on our Facebook page. Make sure to follow us on Facebook for updates. Additionally, we will be featuring a few graduates in more detail right here on our website. If you want to see all 21 profiles, sign up for our newsletter!
Emely Cuello, an 18-year-old from Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic, had an early realization that having connections was essential to access even the most basic services like healthcare. Fortunately, her parents had friends who worked at the hospital, allowing her to receive the necessary help when she was sick. However, not everyone was as fortunate. Cuello recalls witnessing a child choking with no action being taken at the hospital, which she found deeply unfair.
This injustice had a profound impact on Cuello, inspiring her to become a champion for the voiceless. In 2009, she moved to New York City and dedicated herself to her education. She is now graduating from St. Raymond Academy in the Bronx, where she received a scholarship and mentoring through the Student Sponsor Partners program.
In the upcoming fall, Cuello will attend Fordham University, located nearby, with the initial intention of studying social work as an undergraduate. Her long-term goal is to attend law school and become a lawyer, using her skills to bring justice to those in need. She proudly mentions that she will be the first in her family to attend college, as her parents did not have the opportunity. From a young age, she understood that education was essential for her success in life.
Being a leader in her family, Cuello has always felt a responsibility to protect those who are more vulnerable. Despite being the youngest, she takes on the role of big sister to her older brother with Down Syndrome. She considers herself his advocate and guardian, as her parents often reminded her that even though he is older, she must protect him. Taking care of him while her parents worked instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility towards others.
In the past, we have featured other remarkable graduates such as Lorena Ortega-Guerrero from Oakland, who is heading to Yale, Aislinn Vences from Colorado, who will be attending Vassar, and Frank Lopez from Pennsylvania, who is joining the Army.
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