Franchel Mendoza

Franchel MendozaSiena College
Class of 2009
Business
Hometown: Bronx, New York

The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) has changed my life by helping me to further my academic goals and pursue a better life for myself. Many people have the potential to attend college. However, they come from low income families and just can’t afford the cost of tuition and books. The prospect would have been very difficult for me without HEOP.  On my own, I lacked the necessary resources in order to attend college. HEOP has not only given me the finances to attend college, but the program has also equipped me with the academic strategies to stay in school. I received mentoring from counselors that sincerely care about my future and they make sure that I pursue all of my life’s goals. HEOP sees the potential in every student and affords them an opportunity at a better life. Not only has HEOP given me the opportunity to attend college, but to attend a private institution such as Siena College where I am ensured to receive lots of individual attention and a quality education.

I’m involved in various campus activities and hold various positions of leadership on campus. I am a Resident Assistant and on the Executive Board for the Black and Latino Student Association. I also participate in two different mentoring programs, because I believe in helping others the way others have helped me. I also write for the HEOP newsletter, HEOP Headlines. HEOP helped me to realize the importance of time management so that I could balance being highly active on campus and still maintain high academic standards. Also, HEOP helped me to realize the importance of being a well-rounded student. Being active on campus is as just as important as maintaining a high academic standard. These are aspects of being a good student and a decent member of the community that HEOP helped me to discover.