Hersson Carranza, Advot Alum

Hersson walked into his first Advot class at USC Hybrid High School with his backpack slung across his front like a shield between himself and the world. During his time at Advot, he transformed from a reserved student who rarely voiced his thoughts to a vibrant, outgoing member of the community. 

"Advot is amazing! I still remember how shy and quiet I was on my first day. Since then, I just can’t shut up," Hersson recalls. 

Initially chosen for the program because of his reluctance to speak up, he gradually emerged from his shell with the help of Advot’s workshops. By the end of the program, Hersson no longer needed to use his backpack as a barrier between him and the world—and he proudly shared original poems and artwork with his peers.

Hersson’s confidence and growth didn’t end with the program. As an alum, he returned to participate in Advot’s annual gala—where he read a letter to his younger self highlighting his incredible growth and introspection. His evolution through the program was so profound that he was hired as an Advot Facilitator Assistant. In this role, he fully engaged in the program, from assisting with classroom warm-ups, acting as a model in the healthy communication games, and supporting classroom management.

His transformation into a confident leader inspired Advot to develop a new model that leverages alumni’s experience to enrich the program. “The program helped me out of my comfort zone. It helped me become the person I am today. I’m truly grateful.”

His voice is his power: Now studying Civil Engineering at California State University Long Beach, Hersson continues to build on the foundation established during his time with Advot. He has created and maintained a community of friends and manages a full course load while using skills he honed with Advot. He is still actively engaged with Advot through the relationships he developed while in our program.