California student in viral video details hardships that shaped her journey to Harvard University
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- California student Cielo Echegoyen got national attention for her reaction when she found out she got into Harvard University. Lilia Luciano spoke with the teen, and shares the incredible story of hard work and perseverance behind her success.
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What an amazing story. She’s not just book smart but seems to be compassionate and life smart. She earned it.
She worked so hard for this congrats girl
@Fred Garven she studied a lot and that is called dedication. After skl she lead till 10 and that is a lot of work every day
@Fred Garven stfu. if affirmative action gave minority students and unfair advantage over others, the schools would be filled with minorities, we both know all the tops schools are still predominantly white. so let her be, she got in on her own merit. you're just mad that you couldn't get in, don't blame that on other people.
@Fred Garven She worked extremely hard and deserved to get in, something you probably don't do.
She's an amazing girl
LITERALLY YOU ARE ON EVERY VIDEO
@@bloodystring deadass 🧐
hi
Running out of actual good comments to write huh Ray?
This is just m messed up.
A similar thing has happened to me. I'm 17 and also applying to college. My experiences are similar to hers, as my dad was detained by ICE and held in holding for 7 months. Afterwards, he was deported and I didn't see him for 1 year. After seeing him once, I went back home and a couple of months later, I got a call saying he was murdered (this happened in 2019). Although life has not been easy, I still stay strong for my 3 sisters and my mom. Wish you the best Cielo and every other person applying to college this year as well
I'm sorry about what happened to your dad. 💜💜
Hope you'll be okay in time :( that's heartbreaking.
I am so sorry that all happened, it must have been so traumatic. remember to be strong but to let yourself feel the pain as well, you owe it to yourself.
I would highly recommend you read "Don't Ask Me Where I'm From", the main character went through experiences similar to yours (unless reading about things like that trigger you!). sending you hope and wishing you and your family peace.
This is so terrible, I am sorry for your loss.
God bless you and your family
Have to have better pathways for hard-working people like this to succeed in our society. Personally, I don’t think Ivy League schools are a big deal, but the point here is that she had a goal and achieved it. Awesome.
May I ask you why you don’t think Ivy League schools are a big deal? Surely you know what types of students are accepted right? (Excluding those who are legacy or got in using their parents influence lol)
@@JoeARedHawk275 I think Ivy League schools are probably great for networking - I know a handful of very successful people who came from them. But what I meant was, for most people, especially without deep pockets, academically you get pretty much just as good an education as at a state school. I understand there are social advantages at places like Harvard though. For example the amount of people who worked at Harvard Lampoon who went on to be acclaimed comedy writers. But for most people, the loans are likely not worth it. Thoughts?
@@BenSultanMusic exactly alot of student loan just so you can work with a coworker that got her degree at a community college
@@BenSultanMusic harvard have some of the best financial aid tho, sometimes it’s even more affordable than state schools
@@BenSultanMusic Unless you’re parents are pretty well off, you won’t go into serious debt. The Ivy Leagues are very generous I knew a couple people who got in them and didn’t think they received enough aid and all it took was a couple emails to get it increased.
I'm so happy she was able to achieve her dream. I'm Salvadorian-American and glad my people are rising up.
I believe she also is Mexican as she did mention Oaxaca a state in Mexico
@Jacob Rodriguez Oh my God 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂...
America needs more Americans like her. 🇺🇸🥰
@Corey H how do you know she is not?
@@jdlaw21 e
@Corey H we need more Americans like her.... ones who work hard, appreciate the opportunities here, and aren't trying to overthrow democracy
@Corey H wdym?
what's that supposed to mean 😐
Oncologist? Wow. So happy we have people as dedicated as you to sacrifice their youth to save lives.
I feel like that was backhand compliment 😭
@@lindawashington4061 it wasn't at all. I'm very appreciative of people who have the dedication to become doctors. My best friend is in med school it's hard. I've personally dealt with chronic conditions so it makes me happy seeing people do what so many of us wish others would. True dedication. No lies, med school is a sacrifice on their youthful years. Wouldn't be me lol so they get all the praise that comes with it.
Wym “sacrifice their youth”? For some people studying is much more fun and enriching than going to parties and drinking. Please be more open minded.
Aln Nvk they mean that they are young and instead of partying they are studying. Are you that dull headed or do you need more explanation.
@@luisl.b4146 that’s literally what I said :/ not everyone wants to party. Are u a troll or something?
Im in the same situation :) I live in a trailer my mom is from El Salvador my dad from Mexico and they try their hardest for me so I try my hardest for them !! This made me cry, I don’t necessarily have to go to a great school like Harvard but I will try my best to make it to a good school to make my parents proud and realize their hard work has payed off :)
Please do not have that mindset. If you have the grades and the desire to attend an Ivy League, do not let anyone or anything stop you from achieving your dreams!!!
Baby doll, dont settle for less than what you are worth. If you desire to push for a great school like that, go for the gold and KNOW that you are MORE than capable AND worthy of such accolades. No matter what, go be great and live out your God given purpose. You can do it!
All the best, i wish best for you. :)
The fact that you acknowledge your parents hard work , you are making a difference in your goal , gratitude takes you far , Blessings!!!🕊🌏🕊🌍🕊🌎🕊❤️
All the best for your journey. May all the troubles you face be overcome by you. Peace
As a father he was like don’t let what I’m going through mess you up , stay focused that’s what’s up! Good father. Congrats!
I cried reading this comment. So true
The father a immigrant from El Salvador the mother a immigrant from Mexico raised a daughter that got into Harvard looks like Mexico and El Salvador did send us there best.
These are the stories that all these racist people need to know. People need to understand that we need to embrace the diversity. Diversity brings people together that have different attributes that we can utilize to better society. When you come from nothing and you still have a positive attitude you are a shining light that society needs to feel.
No the racists would just get jealous of her doing better than them or their kids and keep being racist or try to downplay her accomplishment.
If that girl is watching I just want to say congrats on your acceptance to Harvard at such a younge age and under such circumstances. What I will add is that your successor isn't meeting your potential! Dont just go back to your community, go big so it affects all communities. Welcome.
Cielo is one of the many bright Hispanic girls! Congratulations 🍾
This story touches my heart. I wish Cielo Echegoyen success with her studies and a bright future where she fights for causes she believes in and continues to have the good heart she has now.
F to all of those that go through these same hardships and don't even get to go to college...
She was very fortunate to have people around her who encouraged and supported her given the circumstances. I know there’s others out their with similar circumstances but lacked the support in order to go forward.
F? Stfu.
@@its_kaotic_5015 I went to a high school in East L.A. We were all virtually in the same circumstance as Cielo. We lived under poverty, with little opportunities and many parents were taken away from ICE. No staff in our school had faith in us "low-income, first-gen Latinos." They only cared about us graduating high school so they could get rid of us. I was fortunate enough to have foundational support outside of my school and just being goal-oriented that I managed to get into USC, but I know how hard it was for Cielo to make it to that point, let alone finding her drive in general.
@@itscarloszamora props to you! Very inspirational story.
@@Bravo_L ???
Praying that our Heavenly Father heals her grandpa and grants him many more years of life, in Jesus name AMEN!!! 🙏🏻💕💕
Amen.
Amen,, all glory to Him
Amen
The endless pursuit of education. It's amazing what she has been able to accomplish, and will continue to succeed for years to come
Even thought I'm not a Harvard but another university. This gives me a boost up to continue and always go up the hill and never give up! Thank you so much for sharing this story! it really makes people have more confidence and hope that they can succeed in life! Congratulations Cielo! 🥳🎉
Beautiful American human story of perseverance and integrity! Now, I pray the social and cultural intersectionality, and cancel culture flooding our universities doesn't scratch the hull of her and her family's produced vessel's character. God's speed and purpose be yours Sister.
making our community proud 🇲🇽 keep it up everyone! we got this
Yay!!!!!! This is so awesome. You go girl!!
It makes me so happy and prideful and it brings me so much honor that she as a latina brown woman, a Mexican-Salvadoranian-American woman is going so far. She’s carving a path for us Latines to continue in her footsteps. And it couldn’t have been done better by any else but by a latina woman 🥺❤️
It’s just nice that people are getting opportunities to get the tools to improve society. We really need this now, and we need people like her who care about the collective❤️
Qué orgullo, Cielo. Shout out from El Salvador ❤️
What an awesome story of perseverance. I’m especially happy because she is from my hometown, Santa Ana, where a lot more can be done to support and encourage young kids meet their goals.
Blessings!!💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank god she’s got a goal in mind and not mindlessly going to an expensive Ivy League to get a liberal arts degree only to end up working a minimum wage job with lots of college debt.
If you graduate from Harvard you will not be working a minimum wage job lol
@@luketaylor5381 not true most people get useless degrees Harvard really isn’t as good as people say it us
@@HunchoVed true Harvard is just a name, but at the same time obtaining a degree from Harvard can in some ways provide a better chance at receiving a stable job. It’s not for me but for some people it’s their dream
@@nicsaliou4118 people who have Harvard as their dream usually don’t know much about college unless they want to be a lawyer
@@luketaylor5381 you'd be surprised how many people go there and get completely useless degrees, just to say they graduated from an ivy
Respect to their supportive parents as well.... family continuous dedication to their child success cannot be overlooked...
wishing her all the best with her future studies :)
Congratulations Cielo! You are amazing! Such an inspiration!
I love seeing my salvadorians succeed in life 🇸🇻
i hope she can maintain this energy for the rest of her life. the drive and skills she has will change the world ❤️❤️
So happy for her, we need more humans like her.
Guys, just because you get in to Harvard doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. A lot of people get in to Harvard and they drop out next year. Never miss these things.
Stop being a troller
No better feeling for a parent then to know their hard work and sacrifices didn’t go to waste for the children. This is what the American dream is about and god bless her and her family for instilling hard work into the kids.
You girl!! 🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
*go
What an inspiring story. Congratulations Cielo and the world is a better place with you in it!!!
So inspirational!! Good wishes for her and her family 🙏🏻
She deserves it, I'm happy for her and her family.
This is so Inspiring🥰
She is such an inspiration ❤️
This is what America is about !!! Land of opportunity
@jtg42n42q iuq3irqn are you talking about affirmative action ? What discrimination are you referring to ?
@jtg42n42q iuq3irqn the greatest minds didn’t need a degree to become successful :
Henry Ford
Wal Disney
Abe Lincoln
Bill Gates
Steve Jobs
Etc etc
A degree doesn’t mean success anyway. Although I have one , I believe they are HIGHLY overrated
@@AverageJoe483 you're right. But saying everyone has an equal opportunity is wrong. Going to Harvard means you get top notch education and the people who didn't get accepted can't have that. Also, lots of people dont get accepted just because the campus is full. And the other thing is the university itself sometimes accepts people based on their race and gender identity to suit their diversity agenda. But I'm not saying the girl in the video don't deserve to go to Harvard. Rather, she absolutely deserves to because of her hard work
Amazing story!!
We need more people like this. Who appreciates every opportunity:)
Beautiful soul. Great person and amazing woman. What stories she will create
I’m crying 😢 never give up guys specially during this times
to anyone with struggles in general
Congrats 🍾🥳🥳🥳 Repping class of 21 proudly
Congrats to that girl!!!
Amazing 🥺❤️❤️beautiful testimony 🙏🏽
Good for you girl keep your head up, and i hope your dad is doing well, and glad your doing well..
What a beautiful soul. Congratulations!! Get it girl!!
This is so inspiring, I'm so happy for Cielo!
Amazing story
She's incredible!!!!
Proud of her
So humble, so inspiring.
Bless up she deserves the world 💖
i like to hear uplifting stories like this through all the hate and negativity.
How lovely. Well done that lady :)
The future ❤️ I love to see this!!!
Congratulations🎊 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Maybe this is a sign for me to pursue my dream at Harvard 😊
YESSS DO IT I BELIEVE IN YOU
@Heraldo Medrano I would if it existed... specifically in the state of Florida because of economic reasons.
@Heraldo Medrano uhm...they already closed so I guess I’ll just pursue my dreams at Harvard:)
@@saman9291 thanks!!!
SHE'S AMAZING !!!
Amazing!
Congratulations hun....May God bless you and your family
This is amazing!
Harvard is lucky to have such an amazing girl attend their school! Congrats, I know she’ll go far! 💕
IM SOOOOO HAPPY
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU 🙏 ✨ ❤ KIP YOU OUT 🙏
God bless you and more blessings... proud of you.
congratulations to her!
Good for her. Embrace this opportunity!!
Just incredible... well done to everyone...
Why do people dislike this?
Trabajadora, agradecida y bella de corazón :) mil felicitaciones
Congratulations 👏
well said!
Awe her name is Cielo 😭❤️
I was applying to the class of 2025, I decided not to do it at the end and take a gap year. Albeit, I've come to the conclusion, I probably wouldn't have made it. But hey, if people like her are getting in, the future seems to be in good hands. . You deserve it girl! I'll keep pushing forward too, and if someone else is reading this DO NOT GIVE UP YET.
Hey Sofia, you told others not to give up, but why is it you have very little faith in yourself? Listen, never say never. If anything this video should have taught you, then it is you too can achieve your dreams. Please don’t knock yourself down. There’s too much out there knocking us down already so don’t you dare do that to yourself. So give yourself the chance of applying and apply to the best of your abilities!
@@kymberlycourage hey thanks! I didn't know I needed this words. After watching this I couldnt help but thing "I'm still lacking many things" I'm going all over it while doing my math homework haha. But I'm feeling better now, I'll try next year for sure! Until then, I'll keep working hard.
Incredible. Congratsn
Beautiful
As a salvadoran, this makes me proud
Congratulations
Good on her. I sincerely hope affirmative action was not the factor that got her into the university, but her ability and merit.
Congratulations 🎊
Good things come to those who work hard & wait.
God bless her in 😀
That's really a good news. I hope to achieve success in my engineering study. Wish me luck.
Good on her for working so hard.
Shame on the country that rips people off & forces then to put this much into education that everyone should be able to attain & afford.
She's a role model for everybody.
😊😊👍
Yasssss 🥳💜
If we only hear news from media like this, one can only say.
Congrats 🎉🍾🥂😃
i just hope that they give her a full ride : )
that's us srilankan students who studies. congratulations😊
I love her.
It's way less than 5% this year. Almost 90,000 people have applied for about 800 spots
All the best Darling.
This lovely young woman Cielo like the Harvard grad Youth poet Amanda Gorman, hold the key to America's success. There are so many brilliant children of color whose gifts are being stifled by the road blocks of poverty and oppression. Success shouldn't depend on our children fighting super human odds against them. The country should invest in its people no matter what background they come from. Racism is holding the country back. I'm from the Bronx and went to Yale and Sapienza University in Rome. The road that took me to my dreams was like a death match video game. The country actually works against our success thwarting progress for the entire society.🤔
It becomes the duty of those of us who were provided with the best educational opportunities to reach back and help others!!!
yet it’s not just people struggling with racist issues, there’s so much more that can block it too.. like for those in the LGBTQ+ community for example.
What was the reason for her father's detention?