From Castro Valley Adult School to Ivy League

When SiLin Huang was a sophomore in high school, she had the world on a string. Huang, who emigrated from a provincial town in China at age eight, was a straight-A student. She played tennis and flute, competed in robotics and Quizbowl, and volunteered for Key Club. She was looking ahead to applying to college to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.

Then, a debilitating illness left her unable to complete high school. Two years later when she recovered, she discovered she could not re-enter high school to resume her studies. 

“I was staggered,” Huang says. “The thought of being unable to return to school was like having the path to my destination destroyed.” 

Yet Huang never relinquished her college goal. She enrolled at Castro Valley Adult & Career Education and completed two years’ worth of high school in one year. 

“SiLin was not only incredibly dedicated to completing her courses with the highest possible scores, she also contributed to our class by tutoring others in math,” remarks Adult Secondary Education department chair Megan Morgan.

She also began applying to college with the help of the school’s Launch College and Career Success program. 

“It was inspiring to work with SiLin because her story was so powerful and because her parents, while supportive, couldn’t really help with the process,” notes Sharon Travers, college and career transition specialist.

In November, Huang was admitted to Columbia University’s School of General Studies in New York City, which is focused on providing “non-traditional” students with access to one of the nation’s top educational institutions.

Huang is thrilled about the prospects of attending Columbia. 

Although the cost of tuition makes her enrollment plans uncertain, she says, “It was amazing to get the admission envelope, and I feel an intense sense of accomplishment just being admitted.” 

Her experience made her a passionate advocate for adult education. 

“I am grateful to everyone at Castro Valley Adult and Career Education,” concludes Huang. “As an adult education student, I discovered the importance of equal educational access for all. I want adult students to know it is never too late to complete high school. I hope I can inspire others to never let go of their dreams and to accomplish their goals." 

For more information about Castro Valley Adult & Career Education’s academic programs, visit www.cvadult.org or call (510) 886-1000.