Gloria Montiel knew she wanted to attend Harvard University since she was 12, but the path to her dream college appeared unattainable. The Santa Ana High School student did not have legal status long before being a Dreamer was a cause.
Her parents, both restaurant workers, could neither offer her the support financial or firsthand experience she would need in becoming the first person in her family to attend college, let alone Harvard.
Disillusionment and apathy were all elements of Montiel’s education up until she met Bill Roberts, an English teacher at Santa Ana High. Roberts offered more than just a curriculum to the predominantly low-income and Latino student population. He fostered acceptance and empathy while requiring diligence, accountability and most importantly: self-belief.