Anthony Bibiano, 17 | Alumni Ambassador 2018-2019 | Oakland High School, CA | Constanza, DR
Growing up in Oakland, I’ve experienced many things a 17-year old should never have to. With issues ranging from murders and racism to an overworked police and school system. The issues my community faces do not make me feel ashamed about where I come from but have inspired me to work hard to improve my city.
At the age of 15, my brother-in-law was shot and killed within feet of my home. So much rage filled my body when it occurred and the way I dealt with the problem was horrible. I was in the streets doing things I shouldn’t have been doing. I’ll admit that the path I was taking was either going to end up with me in jail or even worse, dead. My teacher Mr. White even warned me and that’s when it hit hard.
Mr. White didn’t want me to be another statistic. He didn’t want me to end up in jail or dead like many others in Oakland. So I started reaching out to him more and he told me about Global Glimpse. He motivated me to do the application despite how expensive it was. A month later, I got accepted and I was fortunate enough to receive a full scholarship. The trip completely changed me, it was truly the best experience I’ve ever had.
Global Glimpse saved my life. Now moving on to the future it’s no longer about making it out of the system and getting far away from it, but rather it’s about erasing the system. My goal is to help more kids like me who are put in the most horrible situations and ensure they have a way out.
Here is my Global Glimpse story…
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