When dreaming about your personal goals or of being successful, believing that you can make it happen is half of the battle. This mental challenge is a reality for everyone, though it can be a greater challenge for Hispanic youth, especially those who have no family member who has already taken the path of higher education and a professional career.

The locally founded Puente Project addresses all of the challenges students face. Its mission is to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees, and return to the community as mentors and leaders of future generations.

The Puente Project was started at Chabot College in Hayward twenty-six years ago by faculty members Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath. Felix was concerned about the high drop-out rate of Hispanic/Latino students on campus and committed himself to studying the problem and creating solutions. He and Patricia developed a new English writing class and brought more cultural material into the class, specifically literature by Latino writers. He also sought the volunteer help of Hispanic professionals in the community to be mentors for the students. Felix says he knew that the program was successful when students started asking him about bachelor degrees. "That was the point when the students could see that they were successful in the classroom and had a career goal in mind," he says."

Puente is a source of local pride for people in the Hayward area as the program has expanded from its success at Chabot College to 56 community colleges and 36 high schools throughout California. Omar Cardenas is an enthusiastic Puente student at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. "If it wasn't for Puente, my involvement and interest in school wouldn't be as strong - my motivation wouldn't be as strong," he asserts.

The counseling and mentoring Puente provides is vital for the students' success. Ramon Parada is an academic counselor and instructor at Chabot College and the Puente Project co-coordinator. "Students like the fact that there's a program that supports them in figuring out their goals," he said. "With the volunteer mentors, he says that students, "really appreciate that there's people who take the time to talk with them about what it takes to be successful."

David Pena, a State Farm insurance agent in Hayward has been a Puente mentor for 15 years and is the co-chair for the mentor program. "I wish I had this type of program when I was in college- this is exactly what students need to be successful," he says. David points to the unique aspect of Puente in that in addition to the counseling and mentoring, the program is connected to the academics and makes students accountable in class.

Mark Salinas is a prime example of Puente's success. He is a Chabot College Ethnic Studies Instructor who feels that Puente made a great difference for him when he was a student. "Through Puente I got exposure to a professional environment - a whole other side of the community," he says. Today, he tells his students that,"you don't need a college education to be successful, but you will have a lot more options."

For more information about the Puente Project, call 510-723-7120 or visit www.puente.net.