For one, she is an undocumented immigrant. Also, no one in her family has a college degree.
But after graduating from Southport High School earlier this year, the 19-year-old is taking community college classes and hopes to later transfer to a university. She wants to pursue a career in accounting or in the medical field.
A program by an Indianapolis nonprofit changed her mind about what she could accomplish.
Tu Futuro, which means "your future," is a program by La Plaza Inc., an organization that serves the Latino community in Indianapolis. Representatives from La Plaza go to more than 20 high schools to talk to students like Padilla about career goals, scholarship opportunities and other resources and information they need to pursue a college education. The organization also takes students on college tours.
Last year, Tu Futuro was among 33 programs and agencies that received a total of $240,000 from The Indianapolis Star's annual Season for Sharing campaign.
