“It all began with my high school counselor. He believed in me when no one else did. Mr. Askey was his name. Anyone who knew Mr. Askey understood and felt his genuine approach as he bravely dispensed his honest opinions despite the discomfort but much needed reflection for those without a sense of direction.  He exceeded the expectations of any typical high school counselor by advocating for all the lost voices deprived from a sense of belonging.  To no surprise, Mr. Askey took one of many hopeless failing students averaging a 1.90 GPA all the way to her graduation ceremony by defending his stance on second chances towards earning additional credits for students identified as at-risk. I was that student. As of result of his ambitions, I earned an associate’s, bachelor’s, and a master’s degree.  My confidence led me towards pursuing my current Doctor of Psychology at Cal Southern University. All it took was one person to understand the misunderstood by instilling hope. The Scholars Forward Foundation was built on lived experience with a vision of decreasing financial burdens for students living in underserved communities desiring advanced learning.  I hope my story inspires others to support our future agents of change” – Vanessa Hernandez, Founder