Dolapo A. is a senior at Pathways in Technology Early College High School in Brooklyn, New York, so college is right around the corner. This Girl on the Rise wants to be a software developer and build the next great app. The next step for her? Studying computer science, possibly at one of her dream schools like St. John’s University or Cornell.

What is something you are most proud of?

I have created so many different websites and won competitions for my sites.

Have you gone through any tough or challenging times? If yes, how did you deal with those challenges?

There was a time that I had really low self-esteem, but I got over it by constantly speaking good things about myself.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Girl on the Rise?

It means a lot to me. As an immigrant, I’ve discovered a lot of organizations only support citizens or green card holders. This is one of the first programs I’m part of that can help fund my college journey. I’m really grateful for this opportunity.

What inspired you to want to be involved with Girls on the Rise?

I was inspired by the fact that I can be part of a community of people who are like me while getting financial help for college-related things. I also love the fact that I can get mentoring because I don’t want to feel alone in this journey.

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals? In other words: Why is the opportunity to visit your prospective colleges important to your journey?

It’s important to visit colleges so that you can see where you’re going to potentially spend the next four years of your life. This opportunity is so helpful because I don’t have to worry about college application fees, or travel fees to visit the colleges I’m interested in. I love everything about this program.

What schools will you use the funding to visit, and why?

St. John’s University, Fordham University, Adelphi University, and Cornell University — these are my top schools!