Here you have an administration that says it is only cutting inefficient programs. The president's high school reform does exactly what GEAR UP does. There is no need for a new program.

The reality is that by eliminating GEAR UP in his budget, the President directly contradicts many of his objectives laid out in his State of the Union speech. The irony is that the GEAR UP program is one of the best vehicles for accomplishing what he claims to want to do.

By proposing to eliminate this vital program, the Administration is demonstrating an unconscionable lack of concern for students and families from low-income and working class communities who depend on GEAR UP for a better future. Just as baffling is the Administration's failure to understand that GEAR UP is realizing their stated educational goals. Eliminating GEAR UP and proposing new programs is not just inefficient - it jeopardizes the progress made to date and the ongoing efforts in hundreds of communities nationwide.

We stood out. Me and my brother JoJo were the only two Mexicans in our whole school, and so was my little brother, in elementary school. We would have people come up to us and say, 'What are you?' and we would say, 'Well, what are you? We're just human like you!' They would just freak out. They thought we were Indians or Arabs or Iranians or something.

Go back to reform school, you little nose-picker!

School is really a big part of my life. I really believe in the things we do.