Edison High School senior Mayra Hernandez Garcia will be moving to Baltimore, Maryland this fall to begin her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Johns Hopkins University has a 7% acceptance rate.

“My hands were trembling as I tried to refresh my screen, thinking I made [the acceptance] up in my head,” Hernandez Garcia said.

“This will be my first time living outside of Fresno, and I am scared but also really excited for that change. Thankfully, my parents have been really supportive, and, with that, I feel confident I’ll be able to face any challenges that living away may present.”

Hernandez Garcia is active and engaged on the Edison High campus, serving as an officer for the philosophy club and a member of the French club and California Scholarship Federation.

First-Gen College Students

She is also involved in Upward Bound, a preparatory program offered through Fresno State’s Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management that offers tutoring, mentorship, and skill development to help high school students overcome adversity and achieve their academic and career aspirations.

Upward Bound primarily serves students from low-income families or those who would be first-generation college students. The program currently serves students at Edison, Madera, Madera South, Fresno, McLane and Roosevelt high schools.

“I joined during my freshman year of high school,” Hernandez Garcia said. “I got to listen to a lot of wonderful speakers who motivated and inspired me. I was also lucky enough to be selected to attend the National Student Leadership Conference, which helped me decide to major in political science.

“Since joining Upward Bound, I’ve gained a sense of community within the program which helped me with being comfortable with who I was. Before the program, it was hard to relate to people who didn’t understand the struggle of being a first-generation student. When I joined Upward Bound, it felt as if I’d found a community where we just understood each other.”

Hernandez Garcia aspires to become a lawyer, practicing either constitutional law or criminal defense. She chose to apply to Johns Hopkins because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., and the research opportunities offered on campus.

Role Model for Siblings

Hernandez Garcia will be the first in her family to go to college.

“I am excited for this accomplishment. My siblings have also shared a desire to apply to university and have displayed interest in wanting to go far. I am excited about what will occur in the next few years for me and them, and I feel proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish. For me, what I’ve done is place the first few steps necessary for change, and I think that’s a lot already.”