SOY is a special place for so many youth in the Newport Mesa Area and has become much more than a center to them— please take a chance to listen to some of them. Our SOY students come to us from 7th to 12th grade looking for assistance in academics, arts, music, dance and fitness. They leave often being the first in their family to get into a college or university and some enter the best universities in California, including Berkeley, UCSD, UCLA and UCI. SOY provides them hope, assistance and encouragement. Meet some of our amazing students and hear what SOY has meant to them.
Read more on what our alumni have to say…
Meet some of our current students
My name is Rebeca Herrera and I’m currently a senior and the valedictorian at Early College High School. I have been a member of SOY’s academic program and dance program for the past five years. I have applied to UCI, UC Davis, UCSD, UCSC, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Chico, and Stanford. So far, I have been accepted to CSLB, CSUEB, CSUC, and CSUF. I have also been offered to take part of CSUF’s Honors Program. However, I would like to attend Stanford, UCI, or UCSD. I plan to major in biology because my goal is to become a pediatrician.
“SOY has been an important part of my high school and middle school experience. Through their various programs I was able to grow academically and as an individual. I would like to thank SOY and its staff for guiding and giving me a helping hand throughout my journey into adulthood.”
In Cynthia’s words, “SOY has helped me excel in my academics by providing me college tours, tutoring and community service. The SOY staff has inspired me to live a compassionate lifestyle full of giving to the community. Thank you, SOY, for guiding me and making a positive impact in my life over the past 6 years.”
Meet some of our Alumni
