College Freshman Gives Thanks to Nonprofit Support

Before she even realized she needed some help thinking about college, Arleth Lopez of Novato was getting it. And today she is a freshman at Loyola University of Chicago — and really missing mom’s home cooking.

“Other than that, I think I have adjusted pretty well,” Lopez said.

Lopez, the first in her family to attend a four-year university, was guided for the past three years by a program called Summer Search, a nonprofit supported by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney that gives high-need students some exposure to the skills and knowledge necessary to become community leaders.

The graduate first heard about Summer Search from her “big sister” from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay, who had a friend with a daughter in the program. Lopez went through the application process and was interviewed as a candidate, then chosen during her sophomore year.

“I remember thinking, whoa, I can’t even believe this is going to come true,” she said. “They helped with the whole college process, which is something I didn’t know anything about.”

Summer Search mentors helped Lopez with long-term school questions as well as real-world subjects going on at home and with friends. She attended workshops about college financial aid, time management, choosing the right college and listening to Summer Search alumni talk about their experiences.

Rodney Loo of the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney office in San Rafael said everybody involved with Summer Search is proud of Lopez and other kids who have benefitted from the donor-led program.

"It feels good to be acknowledged for giving back, but what's even more satisfying is nurturing that altruism in Summer Search students,” he said. “These kids have been dealt a difficult hand, but in Summer Search they learn that they can change their futures and help others do the same.”

Loo said he remembers when Lopez started in the program and there was only one other Summer Searcher at Novato High.

“She wanted other kids to have the same support and opportunities she was getting,  so she helped recruit classmates and now Novato High is one of our largest groups.  I find this ‘pay it forward’ feature of Summer Search absolutely amazing.” 

By early in her senior year, Lopez had focused her college choices on Loyola, Seton Hall and UC Santa Cruz. After choosing the Jesuit university in the Windy City, she started thinking about majoring in criminal justice or psychology.

Lopez is the daughter of Leticia Lopez, a child care provider, and the younger sister of Eviud Lopez, a College of Marin student, and Carmelita Lopez, a beauty school graduate who now has her beautician’s license. Being the first in her family to attend a four-year university is a huge source of pride, Arleth said.

“I always wanted to go to college,” she said. “It’s something I worked hard for.”

Lopez, who finished with a 3.4 grade-point average at Novato High, is going through rush and hoping to join a sorority. She has had fun in her dorm, made some good friends, attended some soccer games and movie nights, plus a fondue cookout.

“So far college is a lot of fun,” she said.

Lopez said she is thankful for all the help she received from Summer Search, and now she’s at the point where she can dish out some advice to younger teens in similar situations.

“What they say in the program is, ‘When in doubt, reach out,’ and I think that’s true,” she said.  “You should have to courage to go up and talk to your teacher, who can give you help in so many things. When I was a freshman, I was really shy and I felt my questions were stupid. But with Summer Search they taught me to voice my opinions and always ask for help. You don’t realize how far behind you can fall by not reaching out.”