“Navigating the college process on my own has showed me the deep injustices of the current educational system, and I want to make it more accessible for students of color,” says Eleanor O. The senior at Kingston High School has big dreams to work in justice and education reform or environmental policy. For now, this Girl on the Rise is focused on her top schools like Bowdoin College in Maine and Smith College and Wellesley College, which are both in Massachusetts — and she hopes to study abroad, too!

What is something you are most proud of?

I am very proud of my position as a campaign fellow for my local state senator. I believe that the work she is doing is very important and I am glad to be able to help her.

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

Yes, I have. I have been very lucky to have a strong support system of close friends that I have been able to lean on and gain strength from. I have also found that shifting my mindset away from focusing on the negatives has been very helpful emotionally.

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

I am proud to be selected. I am very happy to have support and resources to help me achieve my goals.

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

Reading the stories of the other Girls on the Rise on the website!

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?

Visiting colleges is important because it allows me to get a better feel for the campus and see if it is a match for me. It is also important for me to find out about the area off-campus and to experience the student clubs, as that is where I would spend most of my time.

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

I’m not completely sure yet, but I am very interested in exploring historically women’s colleges.