This month, we are incredibly proud to shine a spotlight on a student whose story exemplifies perseverance, resilience, and excellence—Richard, April 2025 Senior of the Month at Franklin Learning Center.

Richard’s journey is one of courage and determination. Born in the Dominican Republic, he experienced firsthand the hardships of limited access to formal education. With little opportunity to attend school, he learned how to read and write at home, laying the foundation for his future through sheer will and personal effort. At age 11, Richard and his family moved to the United States in search of better opportunities. Because of his age, he was placed directly into fifth grade, despite having missed several years of formal education, and without yet knowing any English.

For many, these challenges would be discouraging. But not for Richard. He worked tirelessly to learn English, build his academic skills, and thrive socially—all while adjusting to a completely new country and educational system. By sixth grade, he had begun to catch up. And by high school, he wasn’t just keeping up—he was leading.

Richard now stands among the top academic performers at FLC. He recently earned 4th place overall in our annual Pi Day Math Contest, outshining many of his peers with his exceptional mathematical ability. He’s also a standout contributor to FLC’s “A Problem A Day” program—solving every challenge with accuracy and submitting insightful explanatory videos that have helped other students learn and grow from his example.

His academic track record is just as impressive: nine Advanced Placement (AP) courses and five dual enrollment classes. Richard’s curiosity, critical thinking, and commitment to excellence have made him a favorite among teachers. His problem-solving skills and openness to feedback reflect a young man who is not only intellectually gifted, but also deeply driven to grow.

More than just a scholar, Richard carries himself with a cheerful spirit and a sense of humility that is inspiring to everyone who meets him. He turns challenges into motivation and setbacks into stepping stones. It’s clear that his past did not define his potential—it prepared him to rise above.

Congratulations, Richard. You are a shining example of what it means to work hard, dream big, and never give up.

We asked Richard our favorite list of questions:

Why do you think you were nominated as Senior of the Month?

I was nominated as Senior of the Month for demonstrating resilience. I have faced many challenges throughout both my life as an immigrant and as a student, yet ultimately I’ve been able to push through that rocky path to achieve my academic goals and become a person my family and friends can be proud of. Therefore, this makes my resilient character worthy of recognition so I can inspire others in similar circumstances to be the greatest they can be.

You were nominated by Math Teacher, Xiao Juan Ke. Explain your relationship to him/her. Explain their role in your experience at your school.

I was nominated by Dr. Xiao Juan Ke and she is a math teacher at FLC. Dr. Ke is the greatest math teacher I’ve ever met. Her teaching abilities and her knowledge are outstanding, and her resume just makes her outright extraordinary. She has already taught me for almost two years now and I currently have two classes with her this year; those being AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics. These math classes are rigorous, especially Calculus for its need for extensive background knowledge in math. Nonetheless, Dr. Ke manages to make us successful in these classes and learn valuable skills from them. Since I’ve been her student for so long, we’ve learned many things from each other and that’s why she knows my story and who I am as a person.

What is one thing you’d like to share about yourself that most people don’t know about you?

One thing that most people don’t know about me is that I went through drastic changes throughout my life. Most people only know me for who I am today, but before arriving in the US, I was a completely different person. Back in the Dominican Republic, I lacked motivation and discipline since I wasn’t able to attend school for most of my early life. This made me have a narrow view of the world and not be able to have any goals to strive for. But when I arrived in the US, the challenges I faced, as well as the family, the teachers, and the friends I met here allowed me to grow as a person and learn the value of diligence and honesty, making me the well-rounded person I am today.

What do you enjoy most when you are not at school?

What I enjoy most when I’m not in school is spending time with my friends. Whenever we have the time, I and my friends go out to eat, do fun activities like playing ping pong at Love Park or even simply hang out and talk. The reason I enjoy spending time with my friends so much is that I learn valuable lessons from them and they inspire me to try new things and branch out in life, but since we’re seniors, soon we won’t be able to see each other as often due to college and this makes me appreciate the time I spend with them even more. But in the end, the main reason why I enjoy spending time with my friends is simply because it makes me happy.

How did you choose your high school? What is the best thing about attending school at FLC?

I chose my high school because of its great computer science program and its proximity to Center City. The reason these qualities made me choose it is because I wanted to go somewhere that would allow me to get closer to my goal of becoming a software engineer, while at the same time experiencing the beauty of Philadelphia. But the best thing about attending school at Franklin Learning Center is the many AP and dual enrollment opportunities it has to offer, which would allow anyone to fulfill their academic ambitions as I did myself. Also, the staff and teachers here provide a wonderful high school experience with their amiable character and their willingness to help students when needed.

What is one thing that the School District could do to improve our service to students?

One thing the School District could do to improve its services to students would be to increase security in busy transportation routes near schools to ensure the safety of students when traveling to and from school. The reason I find this an urgent necessity is due to the many incidents that have happened and keep happening near or in septa transportation services that are relatively close to schools.

Richard, we are so excited for you – best of luck in the college and career of your dreams!