Downtown College Prep Preparing First-Generation Students for College Success

Pauline Fernandez, Class of 2008

• Her mother enrolled her in DCP in the 10th grade with the desire she get a college degree
• Pauline's mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died when Pauline was a senior. Pauline lived with neighbors after her mother's death
• She is a student at De Anza College, supporting herself with two jobs; planning to transfer to San Jose State University
• Pauline uses her mother’s dream of a college education to motivate her to pursue her degree
• Pauline wants to learn; not just earn credits. In fact, she asked one math teacher to fail her so she could take the class again to get a better grasp of the concepts