SNOW HILL — Six months ago, Jose Cisneros wouldn’t have imagined the road to college would unfold the way it did.
He arrived in the United States from Mexico with his family when he was 5-years-old without the proper documents. His parents had to work to support family in their home country, which served as motivation for Cisneros to excel at Greene Central High School.
“If they would have had all the opportunities I had right now, they would be somewhere,” he said.
Cisneros, 19, has both an older and younger sister and will be the first in his family to graduate from high school and attend college.
This fall, he will attend UNC — his top choice — on a full scholarship.
Because Cisneros is undocumented, he was concerned he wouldn’t qualify for much financial aid. Coupled with President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a new scholarship opened specifically for undocumented students. With that, called the Golden Door, and one other, his college tuition is covered.
“I’ve always want to go to Chapel Hill UNC,” Cisneros said. “(Getting accepted) I think, is probably the first great accomplishment in my life. Hopefully, more come as time progresses. It means all the work that I’ve done has been worth it.”
During his four years at Greene Central, Cisneros focused on maintaining good grades while being active on and off campus. He was president of English Language Learner’s Club, a volunteer with El Pueblo, a nonprofit organization in Raleigh that works with the Latino community, a dance team and a dropout prevention program called AIM (achieve, inspire, motivate).
Principal Don Marr said Cisneros’ work with AIM caught his attention.
“Jose … has been a great student as far as representing Greene Central High School and Greene County Schools,” Marr said. “He and his whole family have been very instrumental in some of the great things we have going on here.”
Marr said many Greene Central students are facing a similar situation, some also being first generation graduates.
During a ceremony Saturday afternoon, 171 graduates walked across the stage at the school’s football field.
“I think it’s a day in which a lot (of students) have been waiting for a long time,” Marr said. “They’re all excited.”
Cisneros, the valedictorian, said it felt great to graduate.
“I’m definitely ready to move on and try new things in college,” he said. “It’s been very interesting, I think, considering all the difficulties I had to face in order to get a full scholarship. Six months ago, I would have never imagined I would have a full scholarship to the university of my top choice.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
Greene Central High School 2013 Graduating Class
171 graduates
Valedictorian: Jose Guadalupe Cisneros Perez
Salutatorian: Kirsten Loren Bubak
School Established: 1962
Principal: Don Marr