For Belida, attending college had always felt like a natural next step. Born and raised in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael and the youngest of three siblings, Belida grew up surrounded by a family that believed in her potential and encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
“My family has always had faith in me and what I am capable of doing,” she said. “They have always supported me.”
Since 2019, a student at Canal Alliance’s University Prep (UP!) program, Belida has found more than academic support—she found a community that believed in her potential. Canal Alliance’s UP! program offers college advising, mentorship, and access to resources from sixth to twelfth grade. UP! helped her build the confidence, skills, and plan she needed to pursue higher education.
In the fall of 2026, Belida will begin an exciting new chapter as a freshman at Scripps College in Southern California. A graduate of Marin Academy’s Class of 2026, she earned admission to the highly selective liberal arts college and received a full-ride scholarship, making it financially possible for her to pursue her college education.
Belida’s achievement is the result of years of hard work, determination, and a willingness to pursue every opportunity available. Belida credits her high school counselor with encouraging her to apply for scholarships and stay alert for programs that could support her college aspirations. She also participated in the QuestBridge College Prep, a program which she says provided additional guidance throughout the admissions process and helped connect her with colleges like Scripps.
As a first-generation college student and the first member of her family to attend a four-year university, Belida hopes to pave the way for others while pursuing her own goals. She says plans to study a field related to medicine, a passion that began at an early age and grew stronger throughout high school.
“From a young age, medicine has always been something that interested me,” she shared.
Her love for science and math led her to take numerous science courses, where she discovered a particular fascination with human biology. Before the summer of her sophomore year, Canal Alliance’s UP! staff introduced her to the College of Marin Summer Career Academies, a program that allows students to explore different career paths through hands-on learning experiences. The low-cost academies give students the opportunity to earn some college credit while connecting with peers who share similar academic interests and career goals.
“[Thanks to Canal Alliance,] I participated in the Summer Career Academies through College of Marin, where I got to explore different health professions,” she said. “I heard from an RN, an OB-GYN, and a respiratory therapist. That was so cool. I loved hearing how they helped the community. It seemed like a very rewarding job.”
For Belida, opportunities like these reflect the commitment of Canal Alliance’s UP! program to connect students with experiences that help them explore their interests, build skills, and prepare for college and future careers.
Beyond academics, Belida has remained deeply committed to the community where she grew up. She participated in Canal Alliance’s Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro (NCNF) consejo (Resident Advisory Council), where community members work together to address a wide range of issues affecting the Canal neighborhood. In addition to advocating for solutions related to sea level rise and environmental challenges, they explore ways to improve the education system, expand access to affordable housing, preserve the community’s diverse cultures, improve transportation, strengthen health and safety, and support the Canal neighborhood’s long-term economic stability.
She says her advocacy work strengthened her desire to continue serving others throughout her life and career.
“Canal Alliance has been so supportive with assisting me in the University Prep program with connecting me to different people that have helped me apply to college,” Belida said.
As Belida prepares to leave for college, she says she carries with her the values, experiences, and support of the Canal community. Her journey reflects what is possible when determination, opportunity, and community investment come together. And she is just getting started.
“I am excited for the future,” Belida said. “I want to help people, whether it is through the medical field or by continuing to support my community.”