Ramirez, whose mother is still in Mexico, is one of three Reality Changers students who have received Gates Millenium Scholars awards, which will pay for their full education.

Recipients who pursue masters and doctoral degrees may receive additional funding, which is given to deserving students who are underrepresented in higher education.

San Diego High senior Karla Armenta and Preuss School senior Karina Santellano are the other winners of the Gates Millenium Scholarships, which are awarded to more 1,000 students each year.

Armenta is thankful to Santellano who told her about Reality Changers last year. Santellano also told Alicia Zamora about the program.

"You changed my life," Zamora told Santellano on Tuesday. Zamora has been accepted to Harvard University.

Armenta, meanwhile, has been accepted to Purdue University in Indiana and will finally leave her job of 10 years helping her mother clean restaurants in San Diego.

In her essay, the 17-year-old remembers being taunted by passersby while she cleaned restaurant windows. Her mother once told her "You can't run away from this reality."

She begged to differ.

"Although a part of me wanted to be the good daughter she needed, another part of me wanted to show her that I can change my reality."

She has done that just by getting into college.

Armenta plans to be a chemical engineer.

Leonel.sanchez@sandiegored.com