Seton grad overcomes challenges, heads for Harvard

by Elahe Izadi | Staff Writer

Jorge and Reyna Acosta said they returned to the United States from El Salvador in 2000 so their American-born daughters would have more opportunities to create better lives.

The family lived in a small Washington, D.C., apartment and their eldest daughter, Diana, did not learn English until she turned 9. Now, nearly a decade later, the Cheverly resident is preparing to attend Harvard University.

Diana Acosta, 18, graduated Tuesday from Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg with a full academic scholarship from Harvard and Ronald McDonald House Charities to attend the Cambridge, Mass.-based university.

"It just seemed like such a reach-for-the-stars thing that I'd never be able to accomplish," Diana said of going to Harvard. "I always dreamed of going to a really good college — that's the reason I've always worked so hard in school."

Diana began attending St. Ambrose Catholic School in Cheverly in the seventh grade. She was able to attend the school, and later Elizabeth Seton, on scholarships.

Jorge Acosta, a self-employed contractor, said he took on extra work so his wife could devote her time to their daughters, Diana and Bonnie, 16.

"All that I save is for them," he said in Spanish.

Diana's father also said he and his wife could not help their daughters with school the way other parents can because they don't speak English well, but "we can support them morally, and encourage them."

Reyna Acosta recalled how difficult life was when the family returned to the U.S.

"We started with almost nothing, but we wanted good schools for them," she said in Spanish.

She recalled riding the Metro with her two young daughters in freezing cold weather to get them to the bilingual school they attended at the time.

Such support was crucial for Diana, she said, especially during difficult times. She recalled times when she would come home from school at 3 p.m. and do schoolwork until 1 a.m.

"There are moments you want to break down and leave it all, but by the end you'll be so happy with the results," she said. "I would never have imagined going to Harvard, if you asked me two years ago."

James Goeke-Morey, an assistant principal at St. Ambrose Catholic School, recalled meeting Diana when she as in the seventh grade, when he taught her social studies class. She now babysits for his family.

"It was one of those things where she came into a new class and her fellow students recognized the leadership in her right away," he said. "And the teachers saw that instantly this is a hardworking student who was always willing to do extra."

Diana said despite her hard-earned successes, some still question why she was admitted to Harvard, telling her "it must be because I am Hispanic."

"I feel like they don't know how much each person works to really earn what they're getting," she said.

But such doubt or stereotyping only gives her more motivation to succeed as she begins her college career at Harvard as an undecided major.

"It definitely makes me want to go to Harvard even more and show people I deserve to be there," she said.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1334406&forum_id=1#15208035)