Growing up, Andreya De La Torre experienced homelessness and other challenges that left little room for college or career path planning.
“My parents didn’t make the best choices. I didn’t have stability or a home, and growing up was really hard,” she said. But she didn’t let that stop her. If anything, it motivated her to keep pushing for a better life.
“One thing I committed to in high school was going to school. I needed a reason to keep going, and I ended up graduating on top.”
The very top! De La Torre graduated as high school valedictorian – yet she still didn’t believe that higher education was in the cards for her. She initially focused on completing trade school to become an automotive technician.
“I was 18, I had to just figure out where I was going to sleep and how to survive the day. I got a job, and I was trying to make ends meet with a high school diploma making minimum wage. A few years down the line I became a mom, and when my son’s dad and I later separated I thought to myself, ‘I need to work on me and do what is best for my kid.’”
She took courses at Phoenix College part-time, where a counselor asked her, ‘What do you want to do with your life?’ It gave her the clarity to wholeheartedly pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications. She set her sights on Grand Canyon University (GCU) but needed help making this dream a reality.
“I struggled with finances and college is expensive.”
She applied for the Empowering Diversity Scholarship (EDS) presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Fiesta Bowl, created to help Arizona minority residents reach their educational goals. De La Torre said she will never forget the moment she found out she was one of the EDS winners in 2022.
“When I got the call, I was actually at the pet store, and I was like ‘no way!’” she recalled. “And I just remember I started crying. It hit me hard, and I was really grateful so there were tears. I celebrated with my son in the middle of that pet store! Getting that scholarship empowered me to go back and finish knowing I have some financial support.”
After that life-changing moment, De La Torre continued to work with at-risk students at her high school alma mater while completing her bachelor’s degree. She graduated from GCU this spring and made the dean’s list! And that’s not all. She also secured a job as a Life Coach at Goodwill and will simultaneously pursue a master's degree in leadership this summer.
“Right now, I help at-risk students who are in similar situations that I was in growing up. I motivate them to graduate high school and choose a postsecondary option. And I'll be doing that as a Life Coach, working with adults who want to go back and get their high school diploma.”
As a first-generation college graduate, she hopes her story inspires others–especially minorities.
“I thought I would end up in prison. I really thought I was going to live the life of my family members. But here I am impacting lives, helping people, and being the person I needed in high school. Knowledge is power, it’s something no one can take away from you! With a good education you can enjoy life, not just struggle.”
De La Torre’s best advice for all EDS winners? Take it one step at a time, and never learn how to quit! A big congratulations to the recently announced 2023 EDS recipients: 25 Winners Receive Total of $92,500 Through Empowering Diversity Scholarship Presented by Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (azblue.com).
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