Raymon Esparza

Raymon Esparza grew up in the same house his father did, becoming the second generation to call East Los Angeles home. His family was deeply rooted in the community, and while aware of the area’s high poverty rates, his childhood was defined more by engagement with local learning opportunities, such as weekly visits to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. Those trips sparked his fascination with science.

As Raymon grew older, his interest shifted toward the environment, fueled by a growing awareness of climate change. His concern became personal when his grandfather’s health declined due to extreme heat and poor air quality. He saw firsthand how families like his struggled with high utility costs, forced to choose between comfort and affordability. He remembers thinking that cooling and heating a home shouldn’t be such a burden—but for low-income communities, environmental challenges are often the hardest to escape.

Determined to address these systemic inequities, Raymon knew college was his next step after Garfield High School. Yet, despite a supportive family and guidance counselor, the path felt unclear. He dreamed of attending a selective university but hesitated to pursue it, fearing rejection. For a long time, it seemed safer to let the dream remain just that—a dream.

That changed when he joined Circle Match. Receiving guidance from former Garfield students who had navigated the same journey, he felt empowered when he completed the first milestone: applying to the College Prep Scholars (CPS) program. A few months later, he was admitted. At a CPS event co-hosted by Pomona College, he sat in the audience with his mom, twin brother, and eldest sister, surrounded by low-income students of color who, like him, were determined to reach the best colleges possible. For the first time, his dreams felt within reach.

During his senior year, Raymon spent countless hours on Zoom with his advisors, workshopping essays and fine-tuning applications. Despite his dedication, doubt crept in. He worried his story wasn’t compelling enough, that he didn’t fit the mold of a highly selective university student. His self-doubt intensified when he wasn’t “Matched” through QuestBridge, a scholarship program for high-achieving, low-income students.

At his lowest moments, he leaned on his Circle Match advisors, Ozzy Cabrales, a fourth-year at Yale, and Angelica Garcia, a fourth-year at UC Berkeley. Seeing students just a year ahead of him succeed at top universities made the idea feel tangible. Their near-peer mentorship made a difference—unlike distant role models, Ozzy and Angelica felt like friends who truly understood him. Their pride in their East LA roots helped Raymon embrace his own background with confidence.

In mid-March, Raymon opened his college decisions and saw the words he had worked so hard for: admission to UCLA. He shared the news with Mr. Rivas, his student government advisor and a UCLA alumnus. Soon, teachers across Garfield High School were congratulating him. More than anything, he felt like his community had grown—East LA was bigger than he had imagined, and now, UCLA was part of it, too.

When Ozzy and Angelica invited him to pay it forward by advising the next generation of Garfield students, he didn’t hesitate. Even before completing the Circle Match program, he knew he wanted to help others in the way he had been helped. The program didn’t just guide him to college; it showed him the power of uplifting a community.

Now a freshman at UCLA studying Mathematics and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Raymon is taking his first steps toward addressing climate justice in his hometown. He envisions a future working at NASA or a similar agency, using his expertise to develop solutions for communities like his. But he knows that’s just the beginning.

Looking back on his journey, Raymon emphasizes the importance of courage. Even if no one in your community has done something before, don’t be afraid to be the first. Dream big—and take the steps to make it real.