The American Dream City: AISD Graduate Soars to New Heights Through Academics
By Reginald Lewis - Office of Communication
Posted on August 27, 2014, August 27, 2014

Tens of thousands of students across the area went back to school this week. And one of them was Lea Sandoval.

Lea is a 2014 graduate of Sam Houston High School in Arlington where she was selected to be a TCU Scholar, a program that will provide her a full ride to college valued at $250,000.

This is an American Dream come true. Lea immigrated to the United States from El Salvador when she was six years old. Her family moved to Arlington and bought their first home here so that their children would be afforded better opportunities.

"College has always been on my mind", Lea said. "My parents pushed me saying that you can do so much with your life if you get a college degree. I just want to show them that their sacrifice of coming to the United States and leaving their family behind wasn't in vain. It was for something. This is that something."

Starting this fall, Lea will be the first person in her family to go to college and she credits the education she received in Arlington's schools with preparing her for this life-changing opportunity.

If you'd like to share how you achieved the American Dream right here in Arlington, click here.

To see more American Dream stories, click here.

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