Erica’s teacher wrote, “I truly believe Erica will be a valuable asset to any community; she is a well rounded, positive leader with the ability to adapt and excel across varying situations.”  This proved to be especially true last year when she spent the summer at UC Santa Barbara in their Summer Discovery Program.  It was here that she admits to becoming a more mature individual and felt she was ready to go to college.  Erica understands that education is a top priority for her and that that will never change.  While at UC Merced, Erica hopes to study psychology so that she can one day become an art therapist because as she says, “every child deserves to be loved, to feel safe and to be understood.”