THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

These neighborhood high-school seniors are going far

Story by Emily Toman | Photos by Danny Fulgencio

THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS CUT EDUCATION SPENDING DRASTICALLY.

The Dallas school district has more failing schools than ones Exemplary, according to the Texas Education Agency. And sometimes it seems like all the youth of America are going the way of TV’s “Jersey Shore.” That is, they’re narcissistic, promiscuous and disrespectful.

But all of America’s youth are not trashy reality-TV character wannabes. Some of them are great kids, even in the face of adversity.

The following stories showcase a few neighborhood students who have overcome the odds to become successful, college-bound high-school seniors. They prove there is hope after all.

VanessaAlanis

Vanessa Alanis was almost 11 when she lost her mother.

“I remember it perfectly,” she says, staring straight ahead, her hands clasped in front of her face.

It was May 5, 2004. They had just spent a few weeks visiting family in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Alanis’s mother received an anonymous phone call that her son Carlos, a runaway, had been spotted back in Dallas. She and Alanis immediately boarded a bus to the airport.

It began to rain. They both fell asleep. What happened next changed Alanis’s life forever.

“I woke up to people screaming,” she says. “As I opened my eyes, I looked for my mom. As she reached to give me her hand, the bus flipped over. I didn’t even blink my eyes before we hit the ground.”

Emergency crews evacuated the bus, and Alanis caught a glimpse of the wreckage — the worst images she has ever seen. She found her mom lying face down on the ground.

“As I lifted her up, her face was full of blood. I said, ‘Mom, wake up!’ ”

She didn’t know it at the time, but her mom was already dead.

From that point on, Alanis shuffled from one dysfunctional family to another. She never knew her father; he left the day she was born. She has a total of seven aunts and uncles scattered around the country. One by one, they passed her off until she finally reached the end of her rope.

“All that unconditional love, I no longer had. I had to mature and grow up. It was difficult.”

At one point, her family advised her to simply quit school and work full time. She knew better than that.

Alanis will graduate from W.T. White High School this summer and attend Texas Woman’s University. She plans to major in biology and enter pre-med in hopes of opening her own plastic surgery practice.

A passion for singing and dancing also keeps her going.

“Every time I dance or sing, I think about my mom,” she says. “I feel comfort because no one can take that away.”

The summer before her senior year, Alanis found herself homeless again. Nonetheless, she headed to drill team camp. On the way, she met Susan Nelson, the hired driver for the carpool. They began talking, and Nelson offered Alanis a place to stay.

“I wanted her to know that there are people out there with good intentions,” Nelson says. “I wanted her to know what it was like to have a home. She practically raised herself.”

It wasn’t easy for Nelson, a mother of four, to bring home an 18-year-old.

“My kids had to be OK with it. They look up to her. They call her sister, and I do think of her as my daughter.”

After being abandoned by every member of her family, Alanis finally found the unconditional love she had been looking for in a complete stranger.

At school, everything about Alanis appears normal from the outside. Most of Alanis’s peers don’t know she doesn’t have parents. Her best friend is Karla Bustillos, a counseling office aid and choir chaperone. Bustillos took Alanis prom dress shopping this year and helped her get ready for the Sadie Hawkins dance.

“I hate to see kids cry, especially when they don’t have a mom and dad,” Bustillos says. “I never want to see a kid suffer. I wouldn’t be in this job if I didn’t care about the kids.”

Alanis has barely seen her older brother Carlos since he left home some weeks before the bus accident eight years ago. By age 13, he had become involved in drugs and crime. She remembers the day he left: She was leaving for a cheerleading game, and he leaned over, kissed her on the forehead and said, “I love you, sis. I’ll see you when you get back.”

When she got home, he was gone, and her mother was sitting on the sofa, crying. She cried for weeks.

“She would ask me to come sit with her and keep her company while she watched TV. I would hold her, and I would feel her tears. I’d ask her what’s wrong, and she’d say, ‘Oh, this soap opera is really sad.’ ”

Every so often, Alanis receives a text from Carlos, “Hey sis, I hope you’re OK.”

As time goes on, she views the trauma of her mother’s death in a different light. Perhaps it was a blessing.

“Four other people died that day. I didn’t have a scratch on me. God gave me a second chance.”

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ChelseaWilliams

Chelsea Williams is quiet, reserved and surprisingly matter-of-fact about being homeless. It’s all she has ever known.

This fall, the Hillcrest High School senior is headed to Washington University to study oncology. She managed to take nearly all Advanced Placement classes at Hillcrest and still wound up ranking in the top 25 percent of her class while rarely having a permanent place to live.

Williams’ parents divorced when she was 6, but they didn’t tell her until she was 8. It turns out that her father had what Williams says was a secret family — a wife, twin boys and a daughter.

“That’s probably why he was never around,” Williams says.

He called her on her 16th birthday, Williams says, and he sounded as if he had been drinking. That’s the last time she has heard from him.

“With him, it was always promises that were broken. I stopped believing in him.”

After the divorce, Williams’s mother lost their house when her father didn’t pay his half of the mortgage. On top of that, he mother lost her job when her company closed. They moved into an apartment with 10 other family members. At times, they lived in hotel rooms, sometimes skipping out on the bill, she says.

When Williams was 9, her mother moved them to Tacoma, Wash., for a fresh start. Why Tacoma, Wash.? Williams doesn’t know.

“I guess she liked the scenery.”

They lived in a women’s shelter there for one year until her mother could afford an apartment. Many of the residents were drug addicts or mentally ill.

“At my age, I kind of saw it as an adventure. I didn’t really know that it was bad. We were always exploring and experiencing new places.”

She became best friends with an ex- heroine addict’s daughter, who was the same age as Williams. They spent most their days playing with Bratz dolls. Neither of them talked about their situations.

She enjoyed attending school in Tacoma and made good grades. After three years, she and her mom returned to Dallas for a visit but ended up staying when there wasn’t enough money to make it back to Tacoma. The constant apartment hopping continued. They’d move in, get evicted and move on.

They stayed with another aunt in Grand Prairie. By this time, Williams had enrolled in high school. Her mother drove her to Hillcrest on her way to work at whatever retail or fast-food gig she had.

Williams arrived at school early by 7:15 a.m. each day. She’d wait outside the room of her favorite teacher and mentor, Anthony Thomas.

“I get there, and Chelsea is waiting at my door an hour and a half before school starts,” Thomas says. “She knows my door is always open.”

He teaches Algebra 2 and says Williams is among the top students in his class.

“A lot of kids would give up,” he says. “I tell her all the time, life is going to be extremely difficult. You’re going to get just one shot, and you’ve got to make the very best of it.”

After another one of Williams’s aunts learned of their situation, she offered them financial assistance and helped get them settled into a new apartment in January. So far, so good, Williams says.

School has always been Williams’s diversion from her unstable home life. Williams wants to be a pediatrician and loves learning new facts about health.

“In some ways, I pretend I’m like everyone else. It makes me forget about what’s really going on, so I’m able to focus. This is kind of my ticket out of here.”

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StevenPerez

Steven Perez is an old soul.

He started dealing with adult problems in elementary school. While most third-graders were happy and carefree, he felt depressed and lonely. His dad was in jail. His older brother had been diagnosed with leukemia, and his mom spent most nights with him at the hospital. Perez vividly remembers his brother screaming in pain as doctors inserted a large needle into his back and family stood by, crying.

“I used to have nightmares all the time,” he says. “I was alone a lot. To this day, I like to be by myself. I feel like a recluse.”

His brother beat leukemia, but Perez’s battle was just beginning. He started using heroin at age 12 and says things were better until seventh-grade, when he was caught selling it at school.

“I would not be where I am today. I believe in fate and destiny. It was my destiny to get caught.”

He spent one year on probation, meeting with a drug counselor. However, he still took opiates because he missed the good feelings heroin produced.

“It’s an addiction, so I still get urges,” he says. “But that’s where the music comes in.”

W.T. White choir director Michael Parker describes his student as a teenager with the soul of a 50-year-old.

“He likes old-school music,” Parker says. “He’ll come to me with music from the ’60s and even the ’30s. He relates to the older songs. Music is an expression of the soul. Kids get caught up and lost in the shuffle of 2,500 students. They’ve got all of these things pulling at them. That’s where music is different.”

Perez plays in a rock/blues band called Lazy Brother. In 2010, he won the top award at the Bringin’ Down the House competition at the House of Blues, going up against 12 other local high school-aged bands. He did a solo performance of The Cramps’ “Teenage Werewolf.” It was his first real show.

“The audience was cheering, the lights were shining on me,” he says. “It felt really good.”

The next year, he and his three-member band — a drummer and a dancer — returned to the House of Blues to compete against performers from throughout Texas. He won that one, too.

“It lasted until 1 a.m. My band had already gone home. It was just me, my mom, my brother, my friend and my girlfriend. They had announced third and second place. Then they said Lazy Brother. Everyone was quiet except five people in the back screaming their heads off.”

Music has always been a part of Perez’s life. In fact, he was named after Stevie Ray Vaughan. By age 3, he was jamming to The Doors. In fifth-grade, he started playing percussion in band and continued into high school.

It wasn’t until about two years ago that he finally got sober. He remembers the exact day he swore off drugs. He had just performed on the quad (a collection of four drums) at a Dallas ISD Cinco de Mayo parade. He was high, and he couldn’t put the drums back in their case properly. He looked like a fool. In that same moment, his girlfriend Miriam happened to walk by. Their relationship had gone sour, but he still cared for her.

“I was so embarrassed for her to see me the way I was,” Perez says. “I quit that day. She helped me to stop everything. If it wasn’t her for, I’d still be doing a lot of drugs. I think everyone has to find that person who will never give up on you.”

Perez is headed to the University of North Texas to study psychology and join a music program. This old soul is ready to move on from high school.

“High school isn’t everything. People get so caught up in it and don’t realize that you have a whole 50 or 60 years ahead of you.”

by Emily Toman

Get the kids out of the house and into these neighborhood activities this summer

Another school year has ended, and for the students, that means freedom. For parents, however, it means finding creative ways to entertain the kids while the daily grind keeps on turning. You don’t have to send them to a camp halfway across the state. There’s something for every child right here in Preston Hollow.

for the fashionistas CITY CRAFT

This Inwood Village craft boutique offers five weeklong sewing camps for ages 8-12, starting June 4 and ending July 27. Camps take place at the studio, 5460 W. Lovers, Suite 234. Register as soon as possible as space runs out quickly. Call 214.366.4220 or visit citycraftonline.com. The cost is $375 per week.

KidFashion Camp: Children learn the basics of using a sewing machine to create projects such as skirts, dresses, purses and hair accessories. Other weeks feature themed camps such as travel and poolside projects.

For The Science Geek

Club Scientific Dallas

Have a child who’s always asking how things work? Club Scientific Dallas offers at least 12 summer day camps for ages 4-13 with hands-on projects that meet or exceed National Science Education Standards. Various camps run July 9-Aug. 4 at Northway Christian Church, 7207 W. Northwest Highway. The cost is $250 per week. These are just a few of the camps offered. Visit dallas.clubscientific.com for a full list and to register.

Camp Jurassic: This is Geology 101 for 4- to 5-year-olds who will explore fossils, gems, minerals and dinosaur habitats that once existed.

CampLittleRobotInventor: Campers ages 6-8 create electric circuits and even build a small battery-powered car. A more advanced version is offered for ages 9-13.

Camp Video Game Maker: Kids age 7-8 design easy, playable video games. A more advanced class for 9- to 13-year-olds explores shooter-style and platform games.

Camp CSI: Children ages 9-13 find out what it really means to be a crime scene investigator, performing blood analysis, fingerprinting and analyzing DNA.

for the traditional camp lover TOWNNORTH FAMILY YMCA

In addition to the popular sports camps (pictured above), our neighborhood YMCA offers summer camps that transport children to the great outdoors where they build character and learn teamwork. To register, call 214.357.8431 or visit townnorthymca.org.

Camp on the Lake: Children ages 6-12 go to Lake Lewisville for weeklong adventures 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with some optional overnight sessions. Camps start May 29 and continue through Aug. 13. The cost is $204-$255 for non-members and $164-$205 for members.

Camp Broken Arrow: Campers depart from Town North for day-trips to Six Flags, the Dallas Zoo, Trinity River Audubon Center and Summit Climbing Gym. Each week features a different theme. The cost per week is $145 for member, and $165 for non-members.

Jewish Community Center

Among other traditional activities, many JCC summer camps allow children to explore the new Naturescape, an outdoor area where kids can interact with nature. Space fills up fast, so register early. Call 214.239.7110 or visit jccdallas.org for a full brochure. Membership is required. The cost is $495 for six to nine weeks, $250 for three weeks and $100 for one week.

Camp Chai: For grades k-6, this camp occupies the kids all day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 11-July 20 with extended morning and evening hours to accommodate early drop-offs and late pick-ups. Campers will participate in theme days, theater, arts and crafts, sports and overnight events. Forever Chai is similar, for grades k-9. Teen Travel Camp: Two three-week sessions June 11-July 20 take grades 7-9 on adventures from in-town trips to places such as Six Flags and Lazer Quest to outof-town trips to Houston and Colorado.

Girl Scouts, the premiere leadership organization for girls and the largest pipeline for female leadership in the world, is celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouting in 2012!

Meet us at the State Fair of Texas in 2012 for an amazing Girl Scout Centennial Exhibition at the Hall of State!

For more information visit: www.gsnetx.org

For The Little Princess

PRESTON HOLLOW DANCE

This neighborhood dance studio offers an array of summer camps for all ages in disciplines such as ballet, tap, hip-hop and musical theater. Activities take place at 3720 Walnut Hill, Suite 205. For a full list and to register, call 214.351.1690 or visit prestonhollowdance.com.

PrincessCharmSchool: Children ages 5-7 experience a week of dance, theater, etiquette classes and teatime. They also can bring their favorite dolls. The camp runs 1-4 p.m. June 18-22. The cost is $150.

DrillTeam Prep Camp: Beginners and advanced dancers ages 10 and up work on kicks, turns, jumps and flexibility in various musical styles 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 30Aug. 3. The cost is $175.

BroadwayCamp: The fast-paced musical theater camp is for ages 7 and older, culminating with a performance of “Annie,” “Hairspray,” “High School Musical,” “The Lion King” or “Mary Poppins.” It runs 1-5 p.m. Aug. 6-10. The cost is $175.

Park Cities Dance

Over the course of 12 weeks, this dance studio offers more than 150 classes and camps for students from 18 months old. Summer sessions run June 4-Aug. 18, and you can sign up for a day, a week or a month. Prices vary. The studio is at 7979 Inwood. For full information and to register, call 214.357.8888 or visit parkcitiesdance.com.

Sugar Plum Paradise: This is for the little ones, ages 2-6, featuring ballet class, dress-up and ballet movies.

Hip Hop Explosion: Teachers for this camp have danced with stars such as Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. It’s for ages 5-17.

TV and Film Acting: Students ages 7-17 can hone their acting skills and learn how to audition for roles in commercials, television and film.

for the artsy kid ART STOP

T his children’s art studio offers morning camps for ages 4-6 and afternoon camps for ages 7-11. Eight weeklong camps start June 11, and the last one begins Aug. 6. This year’s theme is “Art is Reel,” featuring activities based on popular movies such as “Star Wars” and “Tangled.” The cost is $165 per week. To register, call 214.265.8334 or visit artstopinc.com.

Kid Art

This Snider Plaza studio serves children from pre-kindergarten through sixthgrade, offering weeklong morning and afternoon camps June 4-Aug. 17. They focus on “The Art Of ”, helping campers discover how other countries such as Russia and Japan use art. Classes are held at the studio, 3407 Milton. For a full schedule, call 214.750.7118 or visit kidartdallas.com. The cost is $235 per week.

For The Athlete

Hilltop Sports Camp

This camp, held at Southern Methodist University, runs 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for four weeks in June. Campers ages 6-12 participate in water sports, fitness training, intramurals and outdoor activities. The “daily special” covers topics such as first aid, team building and even basic cooking. The cost is $250 per week. For more information, call 214.768.8816 or visit smu.edu/ recsports/hilltop.

Camp Cowboys 2012

The Dallas Cowboys Youth Football Academy has a session June 18-22 at the Episcopal School of Dallas, 4100 Merrell. The camp is for ages 7-14 and runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for five days, featuring non-contact football instruction with a special visit by a current or former Cowboys player. The cost is $325 after May 1. Call 972.556.9947 or visit dallascowboys.com.

for the cultural kid DALLASINTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

B esides art, sports, self-defense, writing and science, Dallas International School offers a six-week language emersion camp for all ages, studying Spanish, French, Arabic or Chinese. Classes are broken up by age group, incorporating other activities such as yoga and arts and crafts. Students can enroll for three or six weeks June 11-July 20. The cost is $140-$260 per week. For a full brochure, call 972.991.6379 or visit dallasinternationalschool.org/camps. The school is at 6039 Churchill Way.

For The Future Aviators

Frontiers Of Flightmuseum

Flight School 2012 offers hands-on activities for pre-kindergarten through 10th-grade. From simple classroom projects to simulated flying, these summer camps cater to the adventurous spirit. For a full list, call 214.350.1651 or visit flightmuseum.com. The museum is at 6911 Lemmon.

Advanced Aero: Grades 9-10 spend five days July 9-13 learning advanced engineering, design and building structures, and applying the knowledge to aircraft accident investigation. The cost is $175.

Rocket Science: Younger campers in grades 3-6 explore missions to Mars, design a spaceship and launch their own model rockets. It runs June 18-21 for grades 3-4 and June 11-14 for grades 5-6. The cost is $140.

Friday Flights: Little ones ages 4-6 learn about space and famous pilots during this mini-camp that lasts just one hour for four Fridays in June and July. The cost is $35.

Spanish Immersion Preschool

Ages

Highland Park Presbyterian Day School

3821 University Blvd. Dallas / 214.525.6500 / www.hppds.org

We are proud of our rich heritage as a fully accredited co-educational Christian school serving children 3 years old through 5th grade. Small classes allow for emphasis to be placed on the academic, spiritual, emotional, creative, social, and physical needs of the young child through a developmentally appropriate approach to learning. For a scheduled tour or more information, please contact the admissions director.

Janie

School Of

9090 Skillman, Ste. 299A Dallas 75243 / 214.343.7472 / janiechristydance.com

This is Janie Christy’s 19th year teaching children to dance in Lake Highlands!

She’s pointing in a new direction and will make a leap over to the Dallas Ballet Center (on Abrams Rd.) in August for fall classes. “Come Dance With Me and ALL my students at DBC! “ See the website for details: www.janiechristydance.com

Lakehill Preparatory School

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931, lakehillprep.org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, collegepreparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

Scofield Christian School

3K through Grade 6 / 214.349.6843 / scofieldchristian.org 50th ROUND-UP! Calling all alumni, parents, friends and family of SCS. Please join us for our 50th Anniversary event as we come together to celebrate God’s faithfulness over these past 50 years. There will plenty of food, fun and fellowship. SATURDAY, APRIL 14th at 6:30p.m. at Park Lane Ranch. Go to scofieldchristian.org for more details, to request an invitation or to reserve your tickets today! There will also be a special worship service and pot luck lunch on Sunday, April 15th beginning at 10:40 am.

Spanish House

5740 Prospect Ave. Dallas / 214.826.4410 / DallasSpanishHouse.com Spanish House is a Spanish immersion preschool for children ages 2 – 5. We offer half-day and full-day programs with extended day care available from 7:30am – 6:00pm. We offer a traditional preschool curriculum delivered 100% in Spanish. Prior exposure to Spanish is not necessary. Our teachers are experienced, degreed, native-Spanish speakers. We also offer after-school and Saturday classes for PK and elementary-aged students, both onand off-site. Additionally, we have an adult Spanish program for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com St. Christopher’s Montessori School has been serving families in the DFW area for over a quarter of a century. We are affiliated with the American Montessori Society and our teachers are certified Montessori instructors. Additionally our staff has obtained other complimentary educational degrees and certifications, including having a registered nurse on staff. Our bright and attractive environment, and highly qualified staff, ensures your child will grow and develop in an educationally sound, AMS certified loving program. Now Enrolling.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service. St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

White Rock North School

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410. 2 Years through 5th Grade. 45 years of successful students! Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Character-building and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and state-of-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus. www. WhiteRockNorthSchool.com.

Zion Lutheran School

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 58 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

Community

The Dallas Police Department and Schreiber Crime Watch host a VIN Etching event 9 a.m.noon May 5 in the parking lot of Lowe’s at Forest and Inwood. Vehicle identification numbers help track stolen cars, making it impossible for thieves to sell them. Auto dealers charge around $250 for the service. Dallas Police is offering it for free.

Education

The Dallas ISD Northwest Council announced winners of the Texas PTA Reflections art contest. The students will be recognized at an awards ceremony in August. Four students were honored in our neighborhood, all in the visual arts category. They are: Lucille Leydon of Dealey Montessori, award of excellence; Carter Adcox of Withers, honorable mention; Honor Burns of E.D. Walker Middle School, award of excellence; Norah Noonan of Dealey Montessori, honorable mention.

Degolyer Elementary opened its Discovery Garden March 30 at the annual school carnival. The garden will serve as an outdoor classroom to supplement curriculum taught inside while encouraging children to preserve the environment. Learn more at degolyerdiscoverygarden. blogspot.com.

People

Preston Hollow residents Todd and Abby Williams helped bring the Austin College Global Outreach Forum to the Wyly Theatre April 12 to spread the word about the opportunities available at Todd’s alma mater. The former Goldman Sachs partner, education advocate and executive director of Commit! is now the vice chair of the Austin College board.

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