Below is the transcript of Angelica Lopez’s speech at The Care Center’s Annual Fundraising Party on May 15, 2025.
My name is Angelica Lopez. I’m 22 years old and a first-year student at Bard Mircocollege. I have come a long way. I ran away from home during my senior year in high school. Coming into the real world, I had no guidance nor family to rely on.
I had this man-made label on me that I wasn’t good enough. I was not seen for my good qualities. I wasn’t seen at all. And because of that, I couldn’t see a path to success. Wherever I went, the label followed.
Breaking the Cycle
But when I had my son, Icarus, at 19, I was assigned a task. I had to break the cycle, the generational curse of stunted growth. I wanted Icarus to learn that he can become anything. I wanted him to define himself. I wanted that for myself too.
My partner, Juan and I had been through it all together, from working two jobs a day to having food for no days, to being almost evicted. I was tired of this pattern. I felt hopeless and drained.
My Story in the Making
On a hot, broke summer day, my friend Daysia and I were sitting outside on the steps, and she mentioned this program at The Care Center. She told me all about how they helped young moms to flourish and pursue a college degree.
So, with no plan or money I decided to give it a shot. College was never on my bucket list, but I’m glad I decided to be open minded. I’ve never felt more confident and conditioned to be better for my son and for my future. I’m not here to tell you a success story, yet. It’s a story in the making. My son has his days when he’s sick and needs me, and there are days when I don’t feel like I can keep going. But I’m doing this for him. I’m doing this for me. I’m doing this to live better and be great.
Empowering Women and Stable Housing
At Bard, there are so many empowering women who have supported me. They’ve provided resources like housing. We’re currently in the process of getting a two-bedroom apartment with an extra room for Icarus. Because of The Care Center, I’ll be in stable housing for the next five years of my academic journey.
I’m now finishing my first year in college, while working as a Behavioral Technician in an ABA clinic. I’m thinking about where to continue for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
My Next Steps
My focus of study is going to be psychology. I plan to become a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst so that I can create plans that help neurotypical and neurodivergent kids communicate and navigate the world. I want to help them to embrace themselves, despite all the false labels society puts on them.
A lot of these kids are being ignored, abused, and misunderstood. This impacts their growth and their future. It impacts who they can become and what they can achieve.
I know because I was one of these kids.
Here’s My Promise
I want all kids to see that they are perfect the way they are. I want them to live life authentically. I want them to ignore the labels and define themselves.
And I promise to do the same. It’s hard to believe that the girl who never saw herself in college is the woman giving this speech right now in front of all of you. I now know that I deserve to be seen and heard and that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to.
I want to thank the family I’ve made along the way, Juan, Daysia, and everyone at The Care Center. They’ve shown me that family is more than blood. It’s the people you stay close to because they see you and believe in you.
