Destinee Gonzales, Senior at Soledad High School, was awarded a $10,000 Girls Inc. Lucile Miller Wright

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Scholarship.

Destinee has been in Girls Inc. since the 7^th grade and is a 2^nd year Girls Inc. Intern. Destinee reflects on how the program shaped her sense of confidence and belonging: “Joining Girls Inc. gave me the needed calm and comfortable days.  I was nervous not knowing what will happen; I worried it would be another place where I blended quietly into the background.  With the first words of “Welcome to Girls Inc.,” I felt different. Girls Inc. was a safe haven, a place where I didn’t have to predict anyone’s mood. The sisterhood was genuine, girls listened to each other, mentors validated our experiences, and even small achievements were celebrated with claps, smiles, and encouragement. Initially I felt embarrassed by the positive attention. No one had ever clapped for me just for participating or sharing my thoughts. But eventually, it became second nature. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly seen.”