College Initiatives FirstGen Alumni Spotlights
Ashlee Guevara, YES Prep North Central ’17
YES Prep continues to honor YES Prep’s First Generation Alumni by sharing their stories whose determination and resilience opened doors for both, themselves and their families. Each feature in this College Initiatives series shines a light on how first-generation graduates are changing what’s possible, proving that college success is not just an individual accomplishment, but a community victory.
Breaking New Ground
For Ashlee Guevara, a 2017 graduate of YES Prep North Central and a proud alumna of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, higher education was never only about earning a degree, it was about creating a path
for those who would follow.
As the oldest of six grandchildren, all of whom have attended a YES Prep school, Ashlee wanted to set an example. Pursuing higher education became her way of showing her family that they could break new ground and walk paths never taken before.
At YES Prep, she found a foundation of belief that pushed her past the doubts often felt by first-generation students. The encouragement she received from her college counselor, paired with the constant support of her family, helped her see that she was capable of achieving anything she set her mind to. That confidence would later carry her through college and into law school.
Finding Strength in Vulnerability
College brought both excitement and challenge. Ashlee admits that early on, she hesitated to show vulnerability or to reach out when she was struggling. But once she allowed herself to seek guidance, she began to thrive academically and personally.
By embracing openness, she found community and in that community, she found her voice. Her growth led her to serve as student body president, where she advocated for peers who shared her background, empowering others to take pride in where they came from and to believe in where they could go next.
From First-Gen Student to Future Attorney
Today, Ashlee is in her final year of law school, her 3L year, preparing to join Walters Gilbreath PLLC, a respected family law firm in Houston known for its advocacy on behalf of clients. She also serves in the Domestic Violence Clinic, representing and supporting survivors of abuse.
For Ashlee, each achievement represents far more than a personal milestone. Becoming a first-generation college graduate is a triumph shared by her entire family. Her graduation symbolized hope, progress, and the collective strength to persevere through challenges.
Carrying Her Community Forward
When reflecting on what she would tell current YES Prep students, Ashlee explains that growth in college extends far beyond the classroom. It’s a deeply personal journey that strengthens rather than separates you from the community that raised you.
She encourages students to embrace that connection and the values that shape them because those same values become the foundation that guides every new challenge and opportunity ahead.
Ashlee’s story captures the heart of YES Prep’s mission: to prepare students to pursue lives of opportunity. Her path from North Central classrooms to Colby College and now law school reminds us that first-generation success is powered by courage, community, and the confidence to dream bigger than before.
Follow the First-Generation College Celebration series as we continue highlighting alumni who are redefining what it means to be first-gen and inspiring the next generation of YES Prep students.
Read more from our College Initiatives series: FirstGen Alumni Spotlight, The YES Prep College Advantage and After the Diploma.