success stories

Chantaell Barker
Eastside class of 2010
Barnard College Class of 2014

Chantaell Barker is fascinated by the idea of living in a sustainable community, and as part of her major in Urban Studies at Barnard College in New York City, she is learning more about the ways social, political, economic, and cultural factors can affect the well-being of a city.

This summer, she is spending her time promoting the well-being of other women at the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. The institute aims to "increase the impact of women on all aspects of technology, and increase the positive impact of technology on the world’s women."

As an intern, Chantaell  has helped to organize workshops at the TechWomen conference, assisted with research related to the Grace Hopper conference about retaining and promoting women, and helped to identify worthy scholarship recipients through the National Science Foundation.  She and her fellow Eastside alumna Margarita Perez wrote a guest blog entry for the Institute reporting on the TechWomen conference.

"They trust me with real work," says Chantaell of her internship, adding, "I'm learning a lot."

When she was at Eastside, Chantaell got used to working hard. The 2010 grad says she felt well-prepared in college because "the classes at Eastside are college-level classes. Some of my current classmates aren't used to the level of work they're finding in college, but projects like SRI prepared me to do real research papers later on."

One of her biggest pieces of advice for current Eastside students is to "stay in touch with Eastside and take advantage of the support they offer." Eastside's Alumni Support Program and new Career Pathways Program are designed for alumni like Chantaell, first-generation college students who are also new to the challenges of navigating the professional world.

Chantaell says it meant a lot to have friends at Eastside who were also going to be the first in their families to attend college. "We were all in a similar position and now I have those friends for life."

And after she graduates from college in 2014? Chantaell doesn't hesitate: "I'm definitely coming back to East Palo Alto. I am majoring in urban studies so I can figure out how a city like East Palo Alto can become a sustainable community.  I want to help figure out answers to the problems this community faces and be a part of the solution."

(profiled summer of 2011)

Gabe Cervantes
Eastside class of 2009
Williams College Class of 2013

Gabe Cervantes has a passion for the law -- and he intends to turn that passion into a career when he graduates from Williams College in 2013.

The confident, outspoken member of Eastside's Class of 2009 has spent his time in college ensconced in classes  concerned with American Studies (his major), Legal Studies and Latina/o Studies (his two minors). This summer, he's bolstering his understanding of legalese and expanding on his experience in an office setting by interning in Hewlett-Packard's legal department.

This is his third summer at HP, and his first in the legal department. His job duties include assisting first year law school students with their research and working on other projects, including "Street Law" workshops at the end of Eastside's Summer Bridge Program for incoming freshmen. HP interns and lawyers will come to Eastside to lead workshops, then take a field trip to HP's Cupertino campus for a tour.

Gabe's internship experience with HP began at the very end of his senior year at Eastside when April Alvarez, the director of our Alumni Support Program, first told him about the opportunity. (Click here to learn more about our Alumni Support Program and new Career Pathways Program.)

"I was thinking I would probably just work part time at the In-n-Out Burger that summer, but when the chance to apply for the internship came up, I jumped at it, even though I felt nervous about working in a professional setting."

But even before he launched himself whole-heartedly into college and his ultimate pursuit of a law degree, Gabe was honing his leadership skills as a student ambassador and head of Step by Step, Eastside's community service club. Through these experiences he "learned how to talk to people who were professionals. I had to be brave. I had to be outgoing."

Gabe also credits Eastside with instilling in him the time management skills and good study habits which have served him especially well in college.  His advice for current Eastside students when it's time to look for internships?

"Throw yourself out there. Be brave and make people say 'wow.' Show them you can thrive in a professional setting. You have to at least try."

(profiled summer of 2011)

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