Ali Guerrero was struggling in school and thinking about dropping out. As a last resort he enrolled at WestSide High School his sophomore year, never imaging what a life-changing decision that would be.

At WestSide, Ali met GEAR UP coordinator Sheena Zacherele. GEAR UP is a federal program designed to prepare low-income students to succeed in postsecondary education. Sheena convinced (badgered, coerced, pleaded with) Ali to attend a Washington Business Week program offered at Western Washington University the summer after his sophomore year. Wenatchee Rotary Club sponsored the trip.

Once on campus for Business Week, Ali says he decided to get out of his comfort zone and talk to the other kids and what he heard surprised him. “They had goals. They were eager to do things. They took pride in their accomplishments,” says Ali. “I looked at myself and I hadn’t done anything. I didn’t even feel like I deserved to be there.”

Ali decided to change.

Before the First Lady made her way to senior recognition night, she made a stop at a landmark spot.

Washburn Rural High School Sophomore Darrius Lindsay is a part of GearUp, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It's the program that offers mentors and educational resources to at-risk college bound students.

More than 200 community members from Southeast Tennessee gathered at Lake Forest Middle School to explore adult learning opportunities in conjunction with Cleveland State Community College (CSCC), Bradley County School District’s GEAR UP Tennessee Program, and CMT’s (Country Music Television) Empowering Education, the network’s initiative which encourages viewers to pursue post-secondary education. This initiative  will provide opportunities for parents of GEAR UP participants to earn a college degree before their child graduates from high school. This will enhance the probability for their child’s success in college. The program is called GIG, which stands for GEAR UP Interest Group.

Most middle school students do not spend much time thinking about college and career opportunities but thanks to the GEAR UP program, 28 Estacado students are looking four years into their future and preparing for the transition from high school to college.