91吃瓜网

by Rebecca Endres听

Born into a broken home full of abuse and anger, Carlos Flores ’14 was turned out of the house at the age of 16 and forced to fend for himself on the streets. The experience nearly devastated him. Eventually, he found solace and inspiration in books and then in social activism. 鈥淚 had an idea,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 became a social justice person.鈥� He also decided, against some long odds, to pursue higher education.听

Flores admitted to being surprised at first by the encouragement he received at the in spite of his difficult past, claiming so many professors have pushed him academically and urged him to write essays and apply for scholarships, including the , which he won in Spring 2014. 鈥淚t was a humbling experience and continues to be,鈥� he said.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy. At one point, the world didn鈥檛 want to deal with me,鈥� Flores reflected. 鈥淎nd now it鈥檚 like I鈥檝e got these amazing people who have already achieved what I want to get to, supporting me.鈥�

Nonetheless, his success speaks for itself, and having been on the Dean鈥檚 List for most of his time as an undergraduate, he is closer than ever to his goal of working in social policy. 鈥淚鈥檓 going for my Ph.D.,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the only way politicians listen! I have to.鈥澨�

Since taking classes at , Flores has been working with less-privileged young boys in a therapeutic program designed to keep them out of prison.

听Eventually, he hopes to evaluate and change how policies are implemented.

听鈥淲ho knows?鈥� he said. 鈥淢aybe one day my great-great grandchildren will have to read about me because it鈥檚 a mandatory lesson. You never know.”