Gladstone High School senior Josey De La Riva, who will be attending Yale University this fall, credited GHS’s small classes and supportive teachers with propelling her to the Ivy League.
De La Riva said she’s especially thankful to GHS teachers Stacy Shinault, Jacob Ellingson and Brian Johnson for providing engaging projects.
“Having my community back me up made the biggest difference in being accepted to Yale,” she said
Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science recently gave her a taste of the college experience and being accepted into a prestigious program. Like Yale, Carnegie Mellon saw how she was not only involved academically but also active in the community as president of GHS’s Key Club and National Honor Society groups.
De La Riva has some advice for other students seeking to attend highly selective colleges: “Be yourself and push yourself, beyond your comfort zone, to meet new people and get involved in GHS clubs that align with your interests.”
She said that she took a “leap of faith” in applying to Yale. She plans on visiting the university for the first time in April.