For many college students, one of\nthe most stressful parts of getting a higher education is dealing with\nfinances. While financial aid does help students pay for tuition and fees, many\nstudents are left trying to figure how to pay for books, rent, food and any\nother expenses that might come up. As all of these things add up, some students\nmay find themselves struggling to make ends meet. This could then lead to a\ndecision to drop out. One local non-profit organization, Dream Come True\nFoundation (DCTF), is working to prevent students from making these decisions\nby offering financial assistance to \u201cDream Achievers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DCTF is a local non-profit that\naccepts applications from students who currently reside in Kleberg, Jim Wells,\nBrooks or Kenedy counties who are facing financial and other obstacles while\ngetting their education. If a student is chosen, they become what is known as a\n\u201cDream Achiever.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…one of the things that\nseparates dream achievers is they really have a good idea of what they want to\ndo, they\u2019ve taken steps to achieve that goal, they\u2019ve got resiliency, they\u2019re\nvery goal oriented, they\u2019ve got the energy, [but] they just have these\nobstacles,\u201d Barbara Colston, the DCTF treasurer, said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the organization does offer\nfinancial assistance, that is only one part of their \u201cequation to success.\u201d\nThis equation consists of four components which are education, mentoring,\nfinancial assistance and community partnerships. For students who are \u201cDream\nAchievers,\u201d one of the major factors for finding success is participating in a\nmentorship program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMentoring is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Our mentors act as\nguides to our Dream Achievers, helping them to solve the everyday problems we\nall face with confidence. We often provide both personal and professional\nmentors to our Achievers so that they have the resources they need for every\ncircumstance they may face,\u201d the DCTF website states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once becoming an achiever, DCTF pairs students with a mentor who they\nfeel is most compatible with them. The mentors are professionals who have found\nsuccess in their life and want to help guide college students in the right\ndirection by offering advice and encouraging students to continue their\nstudies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The organization also provides financial assistance. Whether it be for\ntuition, books, rent, or even parking tickets, DCTF is committed to helping\nstudents get their education by diminishing financial obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat the foundation does with the dream achievers is it helps to lift\nsome of those barriers that are in front of them so they can obtain and achieve\nthat goal and to go ahead and complete their education,\u201d DCTF Board Member\nArnoldo Perez said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n