Last week, a graduate of SVdP’s StudyTime program had the opportunity to share his story with reporter Analia. Jose is the very first student to receive a scholarship from SVdP to attend college. He just completed his first semester at Texas Tech.
Scroll down for a translation of the interview.
This interview has been transcribed, translated and edited for clarity.
Reporter:
The St. Vincent de Paul community group offers their StudyTime program for only $ 5.00 a month per student. If parents do not have that money, they are not forced to pay, and children can still receive those services.
StudyTime offers help with homework, test preparation, tutoring in math, literature, English, as well as guidance through the education system, emotional support and much more. They offer in-person sessions two days a week, for two hours each day and 45-minute virtual zoom classes twice a week.
The tutoring program is for students in grades K-8. However, there are also high school and college scholarship opportunities, provided the students meet certain requirements.
Melani:
Scholarship applicants for high school and college must have first been a StudyTime student. If accepted for scholarships, the student must maintain a 3.0 GPA and volunteer for SVdP once each semester.
Reporter:
This program has been active for several years. However, it has now grown large enough that they are looking for more students from low-income communities.
Melani:
We now have 104 students enrolled. Our students are from 25 different schools and live in 17 zip codes.
Reporter:
St. Vincent de Paul has qualified volunteers who serve as tutors and mentors. The goal of the program is that students will have the know-how to apply to universities, apply for scholarships, and also be successful in education and in life in general.
We also interviewed the first young man to receive a college scholarship from this program, Jose Beciez, who will soon begin his first semester at Texas Tech.
Reporter:
Good morning, how are you Jose?
José:
Hello, I’m very good, you?
Reporter:
Very good, thank you very much for joining us. Tell us everything this program has offered you.
José:
This program has offered me many things. Without StudyTime’s help I don’t think I could or would have gone to Texas Tech. I think it’s a program that has a lot of opportunity to help more students here in the Metroplex.
…the most important thing that I have taken on from this program is to manage my time. Also, I was not very good at math and worked with the tutors from the very start, in 1st and 2nd grade! They helped me tremendously.
Reporter:
Wow, how great. José, tell us how you applied, so others can have this same opportunity as you.
José:
The process is not very difficult. You can visit the website, or go to any of the StudyTime locations in Richardson, or in Dallas next to Love field Airport. You can just show up and ask questions about the program. There are many people to help you, some who speak English, and also Spanish.
Reporter:
How did the scholarship you won change your life? How might it have been different if you hadn’t gone to University?
José:
I honestly don’t think I would have gone to school without this scholarship. Most likely I would go to work and help my parents to support themselves as much as I could. But if I hadn’t gotten this scholarship the first year, I likely would not have gone to school at all…the most important thing is to go to school the first year and stay in school.
Reporter:
Very good advice José. What does it feel like to be the first student to have received this scholarship from St. Vincent de Paul?
José:
I am very proud and at the same time I have a bit of pressure. I want to be the best that I can not only for my parents, but for those who helped me give me this scholarship. I also want to do the best job myself.
Reporter:
Thank you very much, José, one last question. Why do you recommend this program to other students?
José:
I recommend it because since I entered this program, my grades have gone up tremendously. Since I entered college after this scholarship, I have only focused on my studies and right now I finished this year with straight As. So, I highly recommend it as a good opportunity to help you move on.
Reporter:
Wonderful, José, many congratulations, you deserve a loud applause! Thank you very much again.
Final Voice Reporter:
Registration for the next session of StudyTime begins at the end of this summer. More information can be found on the website at https://svdpdallas.org/
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