To view an introduction to The Pittsburgh Promise, click here.
To read or view the stories of these Promise Scholars, click on the arrow to the right.
To read or view the stories of these Promise Scholars, click on the arrow to the right.
Vanessa
"I want the teens in my neighborhood to see that there is more to life than just hanging out on the corner and sitting on the stoop all day. My dream is to be one of the top psychologists in Pittsburgh so that I can be a model of success to my sisters and to others in my neighborhood," says Vanessa Thompson, a 2008 Westinghouse High School graduate and UPMC Scholar of The Pittsburgh Promise. As a junior psychology major at Chatham University, Vanessa is focusing all of her efforts to make that dream come true. Vanessa's first year of college almost killed her dreams. She struggled to keep up with the rigors of college work while adjusting to a campus where she was one of the few African-American students. By the end of her first semester, she felt like she wasn't sure she could succeed. After some much needed words of encouragement from her parents, professors and advisors, Vanessa refocused and recommitted herself to her dream.
Throughout her second year at Chatham, Vanessa worked hard to learn effective time management skills and establish good study habits. She found a roommate whose schedule and lifestyle matched hers, and college life began to fall into place. Tragedy struck her family mid-way through her sophomore year when her step-father died as a result of a violent crime. Even though continuing school was difficult, she knew that going back to the limited opportunities that life without a college degree offered was not an option.
As the first person in her family to go to college, Vanessa shares, "I am so grateful to The Pittsburgh Promise for helping to provide the funds for me to attend an excellent school on a beautiful campus. I know without The Promise, I would not be able to afford to live on campus and experience campus life." Vanessa continues, "I came from an all African-American high school and lived in a predominately African-American neighborhood; at Chatham I've learned that the world is not all black. The college experience is giving me a great head start at learning to work with people who are different than me."
Vanessa is now thriving as a college student and is becoming a fabulous and accomplished young adult via the college experience. Vanessa is Pittsburgh's Promise and we know that she will be a great asset to the Pittsburgh region in the years to come.
"I want the teens in my neighborhood to see that there is more to life than just hanging out on the corner and sitting on the stoop all day. My dream is to be one of the top psychologists in Pittsburgh so that I can be a model of success to my sisters and to others in my neighborhood," says Vanessa Thompson, a 2008 Westinghouse High School graduate and UPMC Scholar of The Pittsburgh Promise. As a junior psychology major at Chatham University, Vanessa is focusing all of her efforts to make that dream come true. Vanessa's first year of college almost killed her dreams. She struggled to keep up with the rigors of college work while adjusting to a campus where she was one of the few African-American students. By the end of her first semester, she felt like she wasn't sure she could succeed. After some much needed words of encouragement from her parents, professors and advisors, Vanessa refocused and recommitted herself to her dream.
Throughout her second year at Chatham, Vanessa worked hard to learn effective time management skills and establish good study habits. She found a roommate whose schedule and lifestyle matched hers, and college life began to fall into place. Tragedy struck her family mid-way through her sophomore year when her step-father died as a result of a violent crime. Even though continuing school was difficult, she knew that going back to the limited opportunities that life without a college degree offered was not an option.
As the first person in her family to go to college, Vanessa shares, "I am so grateful to The Pittsburgh Promise for helping to provide the funds for me to attend an excellent school on a beautiful campus. I know without The Promise, I would not be able to afford to live on campus and experience campus life." Vanessa continues, "I came from an all African-American high school and lived in a predominately African-American neighborhood; at Chatham I've learned that the world is not all black. The college experience is giving me a great head start at learning to work with people who are different than me."
Vanessa is now thriving as a college student and is becoming a fabulous and accomplished young adult via the college experience. Vanessa is Pittsburgh's Promise and we know that she will be a great asset to the Pittsburgh region in the years to come.
