Location: Lake Forest, California

Jenny De Leon, an El Toro High School senior, has dreams of getting involved in the event planning industry. Here’s what else this Girl on the Rise had to say.

What is something you are most proud of?

I’m proud that I am somewhat independent.

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

It means I have the opportunity to visit colleges and figure out what I want to do. Not a lot of people get that opportunity, so I am honored.

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 because it gives me the opportunity to go to the actual college and see and feel what it’s like to be there. It gives me the opportunity to decide whether or not a college is right for me.

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

I am interested in University of Illinois, DePaul University, and Loyola Marymount University.