From West Catholic Prep to IUP Dreams: Sasha’s Journey
Meet Sasha, a rising junior at West Catholic Preparatory High School and a proud participant in the Philadelphia Education Fund’s Scholar’s Advantage Program. This summer, Sasha joined fellow Philly students on an overnight visit to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)—her first chance to truly experience campus life.
For Sasha, the trip was inspiring:
“I learned about their volleyball team… they’re really good! IUP could be an option for me to play.”
She also explored potential majors, minors, and scholarship opportunities at IUP.
Big Dreams, Clear Goals
Sasha has her sights set on becoming an orthopedic surgeon, a passion sparked back in eighth grade:
“I learned what they do to help the community and how much they make—I was intrigued.”
She’s also considering forensic science but knows one thing for sure:
“College gives you more opportunities in the real world. A lot of careers need degrees and experience, and college offers that.”
The Power of Scholar’s Advantage
Sasha learned about the Scholar’s Advantage Program during her freshman year when a coordinator visited her school. Now in her second year of the program, she says it’s helped her explore colleges, plan her future, and prepare for life after high school.
And when asked who’s supported her the most on her journey, Sasha didn’t hesitate:
“My mom. She’s helped me through everything—at my lows and at my highs.”
📌 Learn More
Want to explore college options like Sasha? Check out the Philadelphia Education Fund’s Scholar’s Advantage Program and other free tools to plan your path:
