Richard’s Story of High Jump Success

When we look at the impact that High Jump has had over the course of the past 35 years, the data paint an incredible story of how High Jump has fostered success for students who are of limited economic means in Chicago; 100% of High Jump alumni graduate from high school; 98% attend college; and 87% graduate from 4-year colleges and universities nationwide (compared to 41% nationally of all academically strong students who are of limited economic means). 

But in those numbers, there are over 3,250 individual stories of educational hope – 3,250 individual High Jump alumni who each have forged their own paths of educational, career, and personal success, in part, thanks to their time in the program.

One of those alumni, Richard (Cohort 23) recently spoke at High Jump’s Annual Spring of Opportunity Benefit back in May – on his 25th birthday, no less! Read on below to hear what Richard had to say about what High Jump has meant to him and how it put him on his unique and incredible path of success that has taken him from the Latin School of Chicago to Yale University and now to a burgeoning career as a credit risk strategist at Stripe.

“I am a proud alumnus of High Jump’s Cohort 23 and a former Teaching Assistant. When I think about answering the question“What is High Jump?” I think it would be helpful if you understood a bit more about who I am, where I come from, and how my story is both unique and representative of the more than 3,000 High Jump Scholars that have already completed the program, and the thousands more to come.

I was raised by two loving, nurturing Cameroonian parents on the corner of 87th and Jeffery– the South Side of Chicago– in a little house where the pungent smells of traditional, West-African cuisine would follow me as I exited each morning. Brown faces, warm smiles, and violent streets surrounded me for so long that they shaped the way I perceived the world and more importantly, myself. Within my neighborhood, I was surrounded by people with seemingly limited aspirations for their own futures, and so I began to consider myself small, the world too big, and my actions not enough to make any sort of lasting impact. 

At school, the fear of failure motivated me for much of my life: stay in school, follow instructions, and you’ll be somewhat successful, I thought, or at least I was told. Read, recite, memorize, and ace the test: the formula for success, but still, something deep down was missing. The novelist Edith Wharton once wrote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” At that time in my life, I was a dimly lit candle on the verge of fading out – that was, until I encountered my first of many mirrors, Dr. Dana Spell. Every day starting in the start of sixth grade, Dr. Spell would call me over to her desk and we’d recite the same exchange. She’d say to me “to whom much is given” and I’d respond, “much is expected.” It was Dr. Spell who encouraged me to apply for High Jump, a free academic enrichment program for students like me – academically ambitious, but of limited economic means.

For two years, I’d arrive at High Jump five days a week for six weeks out of the summer and every other Saturday throughout the year in my dad’s bright, yellow taxi. Reading books under my desk no longer earned me a ticket to the principal’s office. Mr. Feliciano’s discussion questions around the Harkness Table engaged and stimulated me in ways I could have never imagined; I was asked to contribute to conversations of bioethics and social responsibility, and my once rigid approach to learning molded from observer to active participant. Mrs. Williams’ reading analyses on books like Our America: Life and Death on the Southside of Chicago allowed for me to not only develop critical reading skills but also an ability to find mirrors within characters like LeAlan and Lloyd whose lives in the Ida B. Wells projects paralleled my own on 87th and Jeffery.  

As a shy, socially anxious, and introverted seventh-grader, I vividly remember my first few days at High Jump. Walking into the cafeteria of the Latin School of Chicago with an oversized backpack feeling utterly overwhelmed by the new environment and incredibly hesitant to engage with anyone. Each step felt like a daunting leap into the unknown, as I grappled with the uncertainty of how to navigate this new world. As I settled into my new classes, I quickly realized that I couldn’t do this on my own. Each new problem set, science experiment, and group project pushed me to open up–tentatively at first, but then with increasing confidence, feeling heard, seen, and affirmed for the first time.

These interactions became the catalyst for my personal growth, pushing me out of my comfort zone and into a more confident, socially adept version of myself.  Throughout high school and college, I leaned on these newfound abilities to navigate classrooms where I was the only one who liked me and social settings where my background set me apart. It is because of High Jump that I am able to show up as who I am, across a diverse landscape of social and professional settings.

At High Jump I was surrounded by kids just like me: the products of underserved populations who were always the smartest in the room yet had their questions left unanswered, interests diminished, and had been conditioned to view a hunger for learning as undesirable. Together, we developed a natural affinity and broke free from a bubble that confined us to a vicious cycle and stripped us of our agency. As I stand here today, I’m profoundly grateful for the friendships forged across my High Jump experience–lifelong connections that have shaped my academic journey and enriched my development. Through our shared experiences and unwavering support for each other, we’ve navigated life’s challenges together–celebrating triumphs, weathering setbacks, and redefining ourselves along the way. 

After High Jump, I attended Latin for High School and then Yale University, where I studied Ethics, Politics, and Economics with a focus on Inclusive Economic Development. I actually wrote about High Jump in my admissions essay for Yale. I now work for PPM America as a Fixed Income Research Analyst, and I am a member of several southside affordable housing and economic development organizations. As I stand before you today, on my 25th birthday no less, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and humility. It is an honor to celebrate this milestone by supporting the organization that has transformed my life and the lives of thousands of students across our city. 

To my parents, who are here with us today, I owe you an immeasurable debt of gratitude. Your unconditional love and support have been the cornerstone of my journey. You have given me the blueprint for what it means to show up for myself and for others, and for that, I am forever grateful. Your sacrifices have enabled me to access opportunities and resources that were once beyond my wildest dreams. I also want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my sister, Carol, whose unwavering support, love, and affirmation have been a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me. Your belief in me has always pushed me to continue believing in and redefining myself, and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without you. 

As I conclude tonight, I am reminded of the profound impact of programs like High Jump to serve as both the candle and the mirror in students’ lives. Just as I once felt like a dimly lit candle, unsure of my own potential, High Jump provided the mirrors that reflected my capabilities back to me. I am honored to support an organization that continues to amplify the voices and opportunities of students across our city. I urge each of you to join me in supporting High Jump’s mission, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to thrive and succeed.