“I came here for the opportunity to be something great...”

Dhariana - Class of 2008 Lawrence, Massachusetts

Although the city of Lawrence actually borders the town of Andover, the two are very different—economically, culturally, and demographically. “I come from a large, close Latino family,” says Dhary. “I wasn’t sure if I would have anything in common with my new Andover classmates, but the second I drove up to campus and heard the screams of the Blue Keys and all the parents honking their horns, I knew I had made the right decision.

“When I returned home from Andover for the first time, things and people had changed, including myself. I had picked up new slang words and new habits, and had become more open to new experiences. I wanted to share my new understanding with my family. My absence actually made me feel closer to them.

“I came here for the opportunity to be something great, for an education that would empower me to be more than just a good student. Thanks to teachers who always challenged me and peers that inspired me, I found all that and more.”