STEP’s mission is to equip Arizona high school students with the knowledge, confidence, and self-advocacy skills they need to enroll in and graduate from college. But you may not know that our College-Prep Program doesn’t just help students—we also provide resources to our scholars’ parents, so they can support and assist their children as they pursue their college dreams.
“STEP was the teacher and ally that I needed in order to help my children through high school and college,” says Patti Parra, mother of two STEP alumni. “I knew that they were as invested in my children’s education and success as I was.”
“I knew that [STEP staff] were as invested in my children’s education and success as I was.”
Patti cites a number of STEP College-Prep experiences that benefited both her and her children.
“My daughter Ashley got college selection help from her program manager, Eileen. She learned what liberal arts colleges are, and we explored the financial aid they offer. My son Leo was thrilled to work with writing coaches who helped him draft his college essay. He was also grateful for the SAT prep classes, and didn’t even mind spending his summer hours in the library to practice and apply all he’d learned.”
There was one experience that greatly impacted both of Patti’s children: the three-week Leadership Expedition in the wilderness of Alaska, which challenges invited scholars to explore and cultivate a greater sense of self-confidence, courage, independence, and personal responsibility.
“Ashley learned she could be independent. She came home from Alaska ready to leave home and confident that she could not only survive, but thrive at college.” Leo’s lessons, while just as important, were a little different. “His trip to Alaska taught him that it’s OK to allow others to take the lead. Upon returning home, he felt he could take on the world, and was ready to tackle Senior year. He knew that if he could survive the Alaskan wilderness, he could do anything.”
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“I tell everyone about STEP because it changed our lives.”
Now, Patti’s children are out of the house and well on their way to making their dreams a reality, but Patti continues to return—and contribute—to STEP.
“STEP provided the foundation for my children to be successful,” she says. “Ashley graduated from Wellesley College and is applying to get her PH.D. in Clinical Psychology. Leo is in his second year of college at Skidmore and will have the opportunity to study abroad next year. I tell everyone about STEP because it changed our lives. I will continue donating to the program as long as I can, and I ask my children to pay it forward and, in the future, do the same.”
So far, STEP has successfully supported over 480 students and their parents navigate the college application process and get a college degree, but there are many low-income Arizona students and families who are still in need. We look forward to serving them, and growing our STEP family.