From Future Center to UC Berkeley: A College Access Success Story

For Josue Hernandez, Mission High School’s Future Center started as a place to get help with college applications. It became a daily part of his path to higher education.

While balancing his studies with an after-school tutoring job, Josue first visited the Future Center after a Mission Graduates presentation in his AVID class during junior year. “I started changing around my senior year, trying to get more involved with the school and community,” he recalls.

Like many first-generation college students, Josue found the college application process complex and overwhelming. The Future Center staff provided essential guidance through complex processes like FAFSA completion and college applications. “Everyone in the Future Center, even if they were busy, they’d find the time to make it work for you,” he says. This dedicated support encouraged him to aim higher—applying to top schools like Stanford and UC Berkeley, along with numerous UCs and CSUs.

Beyond individual guidance, the Future Center created a space where students could work together toward college goals. “Working on the same thing together helps bring the community together. I’d reach out to peers whom I might not have reached out to if I wasn’t working on the same thing,” Josue explains.

His dedication paid off. With support from Future Center staff, Josue applied to nearly 30 scholarships, securing multiple awards. Today, he studies computer science at UC Berkeley, where several of his fellow Mission High alumni also attend. Looking forward to a future in technology, Josue remains committed to the collaborative and supportive approach that helped him succeed.

Looking back, Josue reflects: “I didn’t realize just how valuable the Future Center was until I left. They’re there because they want to see you succeed… they really can make a difference.”

Josue’s journey demonstrates how comprehensive college access support can help students transform their educational dreams into reality.