PUSD Board of Education recognized Marshall senior Nubia Jackson (center) for receiving a full ride scholarship to Yale from QuestBridge.
Marshall High School senior Nubia Jackson received a full-ride scholarship to Yale through the QuestBridge Foundation and will be leaving her community in August to learn how to help youth overcome struggles.
QuestBridge connects high-achieving low-income students to top ranked universities. From this year’s 12,818 applicants, QuestBridge awarded 440 scholarships to students attending 35 colleges across the nation, with 24 being to Yale, one of whom is Nubia Jackson of Pasadena.
Jackson plans to double major in English and Psychology with hopes of becoming a novelist. As a foster child, she also wants to start a non-profit that would help youth who have been through similar circumstances as herself to realize the power they hold in their hands to make a future that resembles their dreams regardless of circumstances.
Pasadena Now asked her a few questions about her upcoming years at Yale.
Pasadena Now: What does it mean to you coming from Pasadena to be able to get a full ride scholarship to Yale?
Nubia Jackson: It means that I finally have the chance to realize my dream, that I have a window of opportunity that opened up to me, and also to inspire other kids — other minority kids, other kids who might be going through different or difficult circumstances. I’ve been in the foster care for almost four years and if it wasn’t for my aunt and uncle, I would have never gotten here. So I also want to use myself as an example to show people that they can do whatever it is that they dream of.
Pasadena Now: Did you ever imagine this?
Nubia Jackson: No. I hoped but it’s different imagining it and then living the reality. It’s two totally different worlds, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, honestly. It’s so close like a dream sometimes, I’ve known since December 2nd and I still have those random monents– where I’m shock where I’m like, “Wow, I’m actually going to Ivy League, I’m actually living my dream.”
Pasadena Now: What do you think about going to the East Coast?
Nubia Jackson: I’m nervous and excited at the same time. It will be my first time living on the East Coast. The farthest I’ve been from California is Nevada, so it will be a big adventure but I’m thinking I’m ready, or I’ll become ready in the next few months.
Pasadena Now: Why did you choose Yale?
Nubia Jackson: Yale has a good Creative Writing Program. It’s right next to Boston and New York, which are the hubs of the publishing industry, and I knew that’s where I wanted to go into. And also they’re very open. It’s like a family really, once you’re accepted they do all they can to help support you. It’s small. I like the class sizes. The campus is beautiful. I didn’t visit it physically yet but I saw it online. I’ve read about the classes and everything and it just seemed like it was the right place for me.
