success stories

Joanna LEON
Eastside class of 2005
STANFORD Class of 2009

Joanna Leon attributes her success in life to a solid foundation. She attended Cesar Chavez Elementary School and then the Girls' Middle School, where she experienced one of the defining moments in her education: She was surrounded by students like her who loved to learn and liked to be at school. She had the same experience when she chose to attend Eastside, where she discovered not only students dedicated to learning, but teachers willing to go the extra mile for her. She recalls applying to Stanford late at night on Eastside's campus and teacher Carrie Evans staying with her until her application was stellar.

Joanna would not change her Eastside experience, except for one response to a writing assignment she was given in her English class: When asked whether or not one person could change the world, she answered no. She says, "I still think about that assignment, and want to change my answer to a resounding yes. I didn't realize it at the time, but my teachers were changing the world, my world, and I plan to do the same." A big step towards that accomplishment was to do well in her undergraduate studies at Stanford.  She knew that Eastside had helped shape her identity as a leader and the day her professor mentioned Eastside in her class only solidified her belief in her capabilities.

Joanna graduated this past spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and is currently working at Girls to Women, a local non-profit organization. She hopes to apply to graduate school in the near future and become a licensed social worker. For those ready to join Joanna in changing lives, she advises, "When I first got to Stanford, I questioned my place. You should know you belong in college, you have earned it. It will pay off, your ultimate goal should be to be happy and put yourself first for a while and you'll be in a better position to come back and help, one person at a time."

(profiled fall of 2009)

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