Great Falls Teen Center Students to Attend Dartmouth and Wesleyan

Watch this inspiring video of Lucy and Nairenny

Meet Lucy and Nairenny, two remarkable students from Paterson's International High School and active members of our Great Falls Teen Center. Their achievements exemplify the transformative impact of our initiatives in shaping bright futures for youth in our community.

NJCDC proudly operates four Teen Centers, strategically located within area high schools. These Teen Centers serve as dynamic hubs offering year-round support and programming to empower teens to lead healthy lives and excel academically. Among them, the Great Falls Teen Center, situated at Paterson's International High School, has consistently nurtured ambitious young minds, facilitating their paths to prestigious universities.

In continuation of this tradition, we're excited to celebrate the recent acceptances of Lucy Cano-Bartolo and Nairenny Jimenez into Dartmouth and Wesleyan!

Dartmouth College, established in 1769 and a member of the Ivy League, stands as a beacon of academic excellence. Lucy's acceptance into Dartmouth's Class of 2028 reflects her outstanding dedication and scholarly prowess. A senior in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Lucy's journey underscores the transformative potential of education.

With aspirations to study Psychology and pursue the Pre-Health track at Dartmouth, Lucy aims to contribute meaningfully to her community as a future psychiatrist. Lucy grew up seeing a lot of people in her community struggle with mental health, and she wants to be able to help other people with those problems.

Similarly, Wesleyan University, a distinguished liberal arts institution, welcomes Nairenny Jimenez into its esteemed ranks. Nairenny's commitment to academic excellence, coupled with her passion for healthcare, positions her as a future leader in the medical field. Through her pursuit of a major in Biology and dream of becoming a pediatrician, Nairenny embodies the spirit of resilience and determination.

Bob Guarasci, NJCDC's CEO, commented that "Our Teen Center at International High School is a wonderful partnership with the Paterson school district, and I am very pleased that our services helped Lucy and Nairenny gain admittance to great schools like Dartmouth and Wesleyan.

Lucy and Nairenny's unwavering dedication and belief in themselves serve as powerful reminders that no dream is beyond reach, regardless of background or circumstance. As they embark on their next chapter, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Lucy and Nairenny, wishing them continued success in all their endeavors!

Both Lucy and Nairenny, as first-generation college students, serve as inspirations to their peers and younger siblings. "Keep moving forward. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it," Nairenny said when asked what advice she'd give to younger Paterson youth. "Don't hang around with the wrong people who push you down. Try to go to your max potential, and never limit yourself. Apply to those schools, and you will make it!" "Believe in yourself," Lucy tells Paterson youth who want to go to college. "Even though you come from a community where not a lot of students get that opportunity, believe in yourself, because all it really takes is to apply. Just do it to see what happens. Just try your best and work hard!"