Starting her senior year this month, Lismary had an extra level of excitement. The Bronx native learned that she had been invited to the first round of interviews, for the prestigious Posse Scholarship. The Posse Foundation is dedicated to increasing diversity in leadership across America by offering full-tuition scholarships and mentorship to talented students for attending elite schools around the country. It’s a competitive program, and even being nominated is a significant honor.
When asked how she felt at that moment, Lismary shared her overwhelming pride, describing how she screamed for joy and immediately told her parents. As Lismary put it, “I was already proud when I got nominated, but like, I'm going to DAP too. It’s crazy.”
DAP is the Dynamic Assessment Process, a unique evaluation method designed to identify young leaders who might be missed by traditional admissions criteria but who have the promise to excel at selective colleges and universities. Lismary will now enter a three-part assessment process that includes large-group and individual interviews with Posse staff and school administrators to determine if she is part of a Posse, a group of 10 students selected for each partner institution.
Lismary first heard about the Posse Scholarship from her SSP counselor at Preston High School. Her mentor explained how selective the process was and that Lismary would need to invest time and effort into researching the scholarship. Determined, Lismary had a conversation with her mother, where her mom expressed concerns about her going away for college. “She asked me if I was sure, and I was like, yeah. No one wants to be alone, especially when you go away for college, but Posse gives you a support system. There's people there to help you. Like SSP, they have a support system here. I’ve already been really grateful with SSP to have a scholarship that has a support system, and I’d be thrilled to get that again with Posse.”
During her time at Preston, Lismary has been involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including volleyball and three National Honor Societies. She describes Preston as a second family, offering her countless opportunities like career fairs that make her feel prepared for the future. Lismary aspires to become a veterinarian, an ambition stemming from her love for nature and animal photography, as well as her three pet turtles. She is currently exploring colleges, especially those with strong veterinary or pre-med programs. Although the college application process can be stressful for any senior, Lismary feels ahead of the game, and expressed her gratitude to SSP.
Both Lismary’s parents went to college in their native Dominican Republic, so the American college process is somewhat new to the family. Through SSP, Lismary took part in webinars that helped her envision the college process, as well as workshops to help her with her college essays. While many of her peers are scrambling to write their essays, she’s confident in the draft she’s already prepared.
SSP also introduced Lismary to her mentor, Christiana. Together, they share their thoughts on the future through SSP’s iMentor portal. “There are some days that I have so many assignments and by the time I finish my homework, I'm so tired. But I realize I don't give myself a minute to think about bigger questions,” Lismary said. “When I sign into iMentor and look at the lessons, I actually stop everything and take the time to answer. I give myself a minute to think. I enjoy doing it.”
The feedback and support she gets from Christiana is priceless. “My mentor, Christiana, is the best part of SSP. She actually takes time out of her day to read what I write and respond back to me. She has three boys that she takes care of, and she works, but she never fails to reach out to me. I couldn't imagine anyone better. She's guided me, advised me, and supported me through every like step of the way. It really means a lot to me.”
Currently, Lismary is preparing for the second round of interviews for the Posse Scholarship. Her dedication to higher education is inspiring, and we applaud her for it, as well as wish her the best of luck with her interview!
