21-year-old Daniel entered foster care when he was 13. His mother left him and his father, and when his father was imprisoned, he was placed at the A. B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center (PCC). He lived on and off with his biological grandparents on both sides for several years, but when he was 16, neither wished to continue caring for him and he returned to PCC. Ultimately, he lived in 6 placements and group homes and attended 4 different schools.

Daniel joined Guardian Scholars in 2022 to follow his educational goals and dreams. He is deeply passionate about animals and the support of the program is giving him the platform he needs to pursue a career in a field that he loves. He is currently at Grossmont College working on a transfer to SDSU to study biology and zoology.

Through Guardian Scholars, he has found a community of support that he knows he can turn to when he needs it and will push him to be his very best. Daniel is benefitting from tutoring to improve his grades and he is utilizing the mental health services that he was connected to through Promises2Kids. He immediately joined the Latinx specialty group which helps him connect with other students from similar backgrounds and engage with his cultural heritage. His advice to youth in his position is to find the things that make you happy in life and hold onto them.