Bertha Casataneda Guzman – My School Choice Story

In July, AFC had the honor of hosting several of its Young Alumni Speakers and future alumni and their family in Washington, D.C. Although their time in the district was short, their presence was felt far and wide. Each of them visited Capitol Hill to tell their story of how school choice impacted their lives. The following is a personal summary of this amazing opportunity.

Why is school choice important to you?

School choice allowed me to be the navigator of my future. It empowered me to determine my own future and not have other people define it for me.

What are 3 of your personal proof points that school choice works?

• It empowered me to be a leader in my school and my community, which led to me being awarded the Champion of Change award from the White House.
• I was accepted into and attended one of the best universities in the East Coast, Penn State.
• I graduated top of my class in high school by having teachers who cared about my future and made me believe that I can do whatever I set my mind to.

Why was this trip to D.C. so important to you?

The Washington, D.C. trip was important because it allowed us to share our story. Sometimes, I think people don’t understand that school choice changes lives for the better. If I didn’t have school choice, I would not have been able to get a great education. I wanted people to know my story and understand why this is such an important cause.

What was your best memory from your visit? Why?

My best memory from my visit was meeting the other school choice alumni. We bonded quickly and built very strong friendships. These friendships will last a lifetime.