Roberto Escobedo was in the OPEN GATE Program from 2001 to 2004. Now he is a senior at the Preuss School UCSD, and has a 4.21 GPA.

"The OPEN GATE program instilled within me the values and ideals necessary for success and advancement, even if I did not know it at the time. I was a bit more of a mischievous boy when I was younger and that set up a haze that did not let me see that my life choices had impact and that I needed to start making smart decisions. In middle school I finally realized that I needed to get ahead in life, not go backward, and help my family advance as well. That was when I remembered all that the OPEN GATE program, and especially my teacher Mr. Sachs, had thought me. I remembered about honesty, determination, dedication, hard work, awareness, being considerate, and always striving to be better. The OPEN GATE program made me the successful student I am today. Without it, without its guidance, I fear I would have fallen into the same black hole that so many others fall into."

Q&A with Roberto:

1. What are your interests, activities, sports or hobbies?
On my free time I enjoy being with friends and relaxing at the park or at another friend’s house, especially after having a hectic week of Lacrosse practice, various after school clubs, and practicing the guitar. My interests in life so far revolve around staying active and expanding my growth in the classroom and beyond the classroom as well. I also enjoy reading a good science fiction book now and then in addition to indulging in new or rare foods.

2. What school do you currently attend?
I currently attend the Preuss School UCSD in La Jolla. Contrary to popular belief that we are a “rich” school, Preuss is actually a charter school struggling to maintain enough funds to adequately teach its students. It is a sixth through twelfth grade school and I have been there since the sixth grade. My total GPA from grade nine to twelve and weighted is 4.21, and 3.95 non-weighted.  

3. Have you won any awards or scholarships?
Scholarships none yet, but awards yes. I have always been on the Principal’s High Honor Roll so I have many awards for that, but my most significant awards come from the extra effort I placed in school and in my work. I have been awarded the title of AP Scholar with Distinction and an award from the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability from UCSD for being an officer of the Ecology Club and contributing to UCSD’s sustainability goals. I have also won an award in the department of World Civilizations and Culture. 

4. Please list any accomplishments that you are proud of.
Most of my accomplishments revolve around education, and when I reflect on why that is, I realize that it is because education was ingrained into me from the start. I am proud of having made it through high school with outstanding grades and extracurricular activities. During the summers of my high school years I have participated in two summer internships that focused on scientific research and on medical doctors. I met some very important people and interacted with many different doctors. I am also proud of being accepted into the lacrosse team after having tried out, not making it past cuts, continuing practicing by joining a league, and then finally making the team. Becoming an officer in the ecology Club in the eleventh grade is also something that I am proud of since I consider myself an environmentalist and connected with the club deeply. The list could go on but these are some of the most recent ones.

5. Are you applying to college?  If so, which ones?
I have actually finished applying to colleges and am anxiously waiting for their replies. I have applied to four California State Universities being: San Diego State, San Francisco State, San Jose State, and CSU Long Beach. I have also applied to four Universities of California those being: UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Berkeley. In addition I have applied to Northwestern University in Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington in Seattle, and Santa Clara University. So far I have been accepted into San Diego State and San Francisco State Universities.

6. What will your major be?
I remember always wanting to be a medical doctor growing up and planning on majoring in biology but as of late, I have began to further develop and craft my interests of psychology. That being said I will probably be majoring in Psychology or Neuroscience.

7. What do you want to do after college?
After college I want to possibly go into medical school or another type of grad school specific to my career path. I also want to give back to my family for all the aid they have given me throughout life and definitely give back to my community as well. Mostly, I want to settle down and later down the road have a family.

8. Do you currently have a job or internship?
I currently have an unpaid internship at UCSD in the Nano-Engineering Department building. I focus on the filing aspect of grants, money transactions, and paper work of the professors and grad students that work there. I have definitely grown because of my internship seeing as how now I know I do not want to do office work and that I crave human interaction. I also used to have a temporary job as a host at the Antique Row Café. I was filling in for someone else who was taking a vacation and I used the money for school expenses and for personal interests.