How This Alumna Helps Students in Her Community Overcome Barriers

Shannon Doss wasn’t always college bound. She grew up in South Los Angeles and entered the foster care system at the age of 16. During her early teenager years, college never felt like a viable option. However, when she began attending Ánimo South Los Angeles Charter High School (ASLA) a path to college became clear. At ASLA, she found mentors who believed in her potential, taught her the importance of college, and upheld a contagious passion for excellence. After graduating from ASLA in 2008, Doss went on to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Today, she works as a school social worker at Da Vinci RISE High School. For Doss, her success isn't rising above the impossible, it’s being able to help others do it too.