SAN DIEGO—
An unlikely dinner meeting took place in San Diego Thursday night between U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and high school student Abel Salas. The pair was gabbing and grubbing over a plate of spaghetti.Duncan was in town to inspire state leaders, and was in turn inspired by a group of inner city students.
"They are extraordinary young people who overcome things that are almost unimaginable," said Duncan describing Reality Changers students. The program is designed to help teens become first generation college students.
Salas, 17, joined the group when he was a sophomore.
"Back them I didn't know anyone who attended college, but now I believe I can go to college," he said after dinner.
The University City high school student has a 4.4 grade point average, and is applying to the University of Southern California and Harvard. Salas said he plans to become a mechanical engineer.
"I'm really good at math and science, and I really like working with cars," he said.
