January 07, 22017

To Whom It May Concern:

Determined, driven, hard working, polite, intelligent, and a fighter are words that come up when I think of
Mary Cate Cahill. It is with great honor that I write this letter of recommendation on her behalf to the If
Given a Chance Foundation. I believe Mary Cate is a great candidate for this scholarship as she is an
example of a student who would have been expected to fail given her personal, social, and emotional
circumstances. Instead Mary Cates never quitting spirit has granted her the opportunity to literally go from
hell to heaven emotionally and academically. I have known Mary Cate for almost 4 years and I must state
that after working with high school students for nearly 19 years Mary Cate would be my example of an over
achiever of adversities and a promising new leader in our community.

Mary Cate has overcome so many physical, social, and emotional adversities that it is challenging to try to
paint the picture of her life in a piece of paper without violating my ethical responsibility to confidentiality to
Mary Cate, as her high school counselor. However, for the purpose of this recommendation I will limit my
disclosure to focus on her over-all achievements in over coming social pressures, and academic pressures
with out living out the fact that she has over come some incredible traumatic experiences that I will keep
confidential and give her the chance to choose whether or not she wants to disclose that information with
the committee.

Mary Cates drive and leadership capacity and ability to persuade became very apparent to me when I met
her in her first month as a 9th grader at New Technology High School. My interaction with her was in relation
to her truant behavior. She was also falling asleep in class and according to the teachers and other staff
members, she always appeared to be hungry. She was always respectful and willing to listen even if she felt
accused, attacked and threatened by authority when confronted about her self-destructive choices.

Mary Cate always had a smile on her face and an excuse for everything. As she started to open up I got to
see the true, loving, compassionate, suffering soul in front of me. As we came closer and she gifted me with
her trust she opened up and shared the many issues she was challenged with. I am so impressed with
how she had made it to high school with all the emotional baggage she was carrying. However, I found it
very heart warming to see that many of the choices she was making were to also protect a person she
loved. Mary Cate Cahill never gave up in trying to help that person; however, she realized that she was not
making the right choices for herself. After some experiences she decided to run away from home, going
from home to home until one day she went back home. Eventually, she moved out of her mothers house
and found a job to support herself.
Mary Cate Cahill managed to stay at NHS and pass classes even when she was missing school, and while
being challenged by not having a stable place to stay for part of her high school career. Although she
entered the 11th grade year behind with some credits, Mary Cate has managed to stay on track to graduate
and wishes to pursue a college degree after her high school graduation. Her tenacity to succeed and
overcome traumatic events in her life is to be admired and commended. I have no doubt that Mary Cate
Cahill will not only graduate from high school but come back from college and serve our community as a
professional. This is her dream and I am sure she will accomplish it.

I feel blessed to have had the privilege of working with this young woman. Mary Cate Cahill is in a stable
loving home environment and holding two jobs, while still in high school. Today she is a healthy,
compassionate, hard working, goal oriented young women. She is on track to graduate, has a job and is
working on her post-secondary plans.

Mary Cate Cahills personal, psychological and social disadvantages would have prevented her from
flourishing and succeeding at New Technology High School or at any school. However, her never quitting
spirit and drive to change the story of her life along with her determination, dedication, and hard work have
given her only triumphs after triumphs and a social life that her social and psychological circumstances
might have precluded. It is with great honor that I state that I have learned what true courage and
dedication really look like, by watching Mary Cate Cahill battle to overcome the many unfortunate events in
her life. I believe she is a great candidate for your scholarship. I give her my highest recommendation and
hope that you see the promise that this young woman has to offer.

Should you need any more information on Mary Cate Cahill, please contact me at (707) 253-3716.

Sincerely,

Maria Guadalupe Martinez-Ramirez

Senior counselor