Alumni Insights
My name is Stephanie Corral, and I am entering my senior year at Jordan High School. I'm a multi-sport athlete and an activist for my neighborhood of Watts and the surrounding community. I was born and raised in LA but spent significant time in schools outside of the city. Living in these two vastly different worlds expanded my overall perspective and lit a fire in me to help lessen the wide gap between the haves and the have-nots in our society.
When attending school “up the hill” in a wealthier neighborhood, you quickly see opportunities that aren’t available in Watts - I was in the medical program, attended firefighting training, studied MMA, had access to healthier and varied food, was provided with sports equipment, and was a part of multiple after-school programs. And while the class sizes were small with minimal disruptions, there was a heavy amount of racism present regularly. One teacher profiled me as being a “delinquent” simply because I was from LA. He assumed that I was gang affiliated and would be a disturbance. My God family experienced racism first-hand because they’re mixed race, and I would frequently hear the N-word thrown around as if it were nothing. Although I would speak out on it, I often approached these situations aggressively, usually ending in a physical fight. I knew I wanted to be a part of changing things, but my anger towards people blinded by their biased ideologies and inability to tell simple rights from wrongs overwhelmed me. Instead of using my voice, I used my hands, which I now know was the easy way out and not conducive to real change.
When I moved back to LA, I was motivated to seek out knowledge and better understand the root causes of the opportunity inequalities that were now obvious to me. I started to learn the ins and outs of internalized, interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism. I began to grasp just how devastating systemic racism is to progress and what steps we can all take to combat it. And before becoming part of the OLASTEO family, I decided to join the Invest in Youth Coalition, which was my entry point to civic engagement.
Discovering OLASTEO activated something in me, providing that extra push to get more involved in social change. I learned a lot on the OLASTEO trip to Washington, D.C., in the summer of 2019. The experience of traveling across the country with my peers was unique and empowering. We explored the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Mexican Cultural Institute, and many other incredible educational spaces. And while COVID-19 prevented that physical trip from happening again this year, it did not limit what we learned through the OLASTEO Virtual Experience this past August. Although I loved and learned from all the speakers and sessions, the one I was most excited to hear from off the jump was Manny Scott. And when I write that what he had to say nearly brought me to tears, it’s not only because I could relate personally, but also because I know so many others who could also identify with Manny’s story, and it shouldn’t have to be that way. Coming up, I never had role models to look up to and learn from. I would think, “I don’t want to be like that person...I don’t want to be trapped.”
I see OLASTEO as a blessing - not only did I partake in experiences on the east coast and virtually, learning things I wouldn't in school or everyday LA life, but I’ve also found my role models and people who inspire me. The founders and board members of OLASTEO and the people who contribute to organizations like it, truly change lives for the better. All my life, I've been taught that the ultimate goal is to “escape the hood,” but if everyone just escapes, no real change will ever truly be in play. My life goal is to help enact progressive change, giving back to my people, and inspiring others just as I've been.