If Given A Chance Speech | May 16, 2026

My name is Daisy Zamora, and standing here today as an alumni of If Given a Chance. When I first applied to If Given a Chance, I wrote about being raised by a single mother alongside my older sister and younger brother after my mom made the difficult decision to leave an abusive relationship when I was only three years old. Even through financial struggles, she gave us everything that truly mattered. She taught me resilience, gratitude, and love, and she made sure our childhood still had laughter, music, and joy.

As I entered high school, I began struggling deeply with my mental health. I went from being outgoing and full of energy to feeling completely lost and isolated. There were moments where my future did not feel real to me. I struggled with depression and anxiety, and at one point I was even placed on a 5150 hold. During that time, I truly could not picture myself making it into adulthood.

 What made the difference was having people who finally saw me. People who listened without judgment and reminded me that my life still had purpose, even when I could not see it for myself.

That is what If Given a Chance became for me. It was more than financial support or mentorship. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in a long time, I did not feel alone. They supported me not only through college, but through life. They gave me guidance, encouragement, and a community that helped me believe I was capable of building a future for myself.

Because of that support, I was able to graduate from Napa High School and continue my education at Napa Valley College, where I earned my associate’s degree in Sociology. During that time, I also participated in workshops through Students Rising Above that helped me build confidence, strengthen my professional skills, and continue believing in myself. Those experiences eventually guided me to California State University, Sacramento, where I pursued my bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

Social work felt deeply personal to me because social workers had been part of my life during some of the hardest moments my family and I experienced. They helped my mom navigate housing and custody challenges, and they supported me through my mental health journey as well. What stayed with me most was not that they tried to “save” us, but that they saw us with compassion and reminded us that we were worthy of support and care, even during difficult times.

That is what If Given a Chance did for me too. They saw my potential at a time when I struggled to see it myself. They reminded me that my dreams were still possible and gave me the support and community I needed to keep moving forward.

Today, I have the privilege of giving that same support back through my work at the Napa Valley Education Foundation as a Program Manager, where I support first generation students in career readiness, leadership development, and mental health advocacy. In the future, I hope to continue my education by pursuing my Master’s in Social Work so I can continue helping others feel seen, supported, and believed in, just as others once did for me.

If Given a Chance taught me to never limit the expectations I have for myself. Sometimes opportunities come before you fully believe you deserve them. Take them anyway. Ask for help. Walk through the door even when you are scared.

What my educational journey and work in social work has taught me is that healing and supporting our communities is never the work of one person alone. It takes teachers, mentors, counselors, organizations, families, and people willing to show up for others during difficult moments. It takes community.

Thank you for believing in me, in my story, and in my potential when I was still trying to find my way in high school. Your support gave me the confidence and opportunity to succeed, and I hope you will continue supporting students.