“Hurricane Maria left my home in shambles. Most of my family’s member’s homes were also affected by this natural disaster,” says Arianna Benitez ’22. “For about four and a half months, I lived with no electricity; I had little food and water but that didn’t deter me from my goal: applying to Chapman.”

Benitez remembers her struggle and determination to persevere. With no access to the internet, Benitez and her mother would go on Wi-Fi “scavenger hunts” in order to finish and submit her college applications. In a small booth at a Burger King Benitez submitted her application to Chapman, hoping it would change her life.

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