pay it forward
PAY IT FORWARD
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HOOP OF DREAMS Stephanie Argüello
Although she was raised in El Salvador, Stephanie Argüello was born in Texas and knew that one day she would return to the United States. At the age of 17 she realized that goal and landed in New York City. Her first few months in the City were quite difficult. She spoke very little English, got lost easily, struggled financially, and missed her family terribly. Determined to overcome these obstacles, Stephanie enrolled in English language courses and went on to earn her GED. Though she worked two jobs in order to make ends meet, she was determined to pursue her education and build a life for herself in the country of her birth. During Stephanie’s first semester at the College, she was invited to join the Hostos Caiman Women’s Basketball Team. Through basketball, she found that she was becoming part of a new family. Stephanie credits her relationships with her teammates with helping her to grow not only as a team player but also as an individual. The support of her fellow basketball players taught her to rely on others as well as to trust in herself. Stephanie’s ever-increasing proficiency in the English language, the supportive camaraderie of her team, and her newfound confidence led her to explore opportunities for growth at Hostos. In addition to volunteering her time to community service, Stephanie is a member of Phi Theta Kappa as well as The Hostos Leadership Academy. With everything Stephanie does, she always sets out to “go for the win,” both on and off the court.
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14
HOOP OF DREAMS Stephanie Argüello
Although she was raised in El Salvador, Stephanie Argüello was born in Texas and knew that one day she would return to the United States. At the age of 17 she realized that goal and landed in New York City. Her first few months in the City were quite difficult. She spoke very little English, got lost easily, struggled financially, and missed her family terribly. Determined to overcome these obstacles, Stephanie enrolled in English language courses and went on to earn her GED. Though she worked two jobs in order to make ends meet, she was determined to pursue her education and build a life for herself in the country of her birth. During Stephanie’s first semester at the College, she was invited to join the Hostos Caiman Women’s Basketball Team. Through basketball, she found that she was becoming part of a new family. Stephanie credits her relationships with her teammates with helping her to grow not only as a team player but also as an individual. The support of her fellow basketball players taught her to rely on others as well as to trust in herself. Stephanie’s ever-increasing proficiency in the English language, the supportive camaraderie of her team, and her newfound confidence led her to explore opportunities for growth at Hostos. In addition to volunteering her time to community service, Stephanie is a member of Phi Theta Kappa as well as The Hostos Leadership Academy. With everything Stephanie does, she always sets out to “go for the win,” both on and off the court.
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