Samantha Arpallan
Pillars Scholars
Pillars Scholars
Samantha Arpallan
Samantha has overcome the foster care system which she entered at 7 years old due to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Becoming a statistic of teen pregnancy at 15 she endured homelessness and faced many trials in providing for her son. One of the biggest obstacles for Samantha was gang violence which made her a target in the streets and for police. By the time she was 16, Samantha’s future was jeopardized when she was charged with 2 felony strikes. At 22 Samantha attended San Diego City College and obtained her associates in liberal arts with a focus on social and behavioral sciences. After, she transferred to San Diego State University where she received her Bachelor of Social Work while working with troubled youth in juvenile detention facilities. Currently, Samantha is working on her application to receive her master’s degree from a California state university. She currently works for the San Diego Rescue Mission which is a nonprofit emergency shelter that serves thousands of men, women and children experiencing homelessness, hunger, and abuse. Everyday Samantha proudly uses the experiences of her life to encourage, empower, and motivate people that have lost hope in themselves and in society.
Samantha has overcome the foster care system which she entered at 7 years old due to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Becoming a statistic of teen pregnancy at 15 she endured homelessness and faced many trials in providing for her son. One of the biggest obstacles for Samantha was gang violence which made her a target in the streets and for police. By the time she was 16, Samantha’s future was jeopardized when she was charged with 2 felony strikes. At 22 Samantha attended San Diego City College and obtained her associates in liberal arts with a focus on social and behavioral sciences. After, she transferred to San Diego State University where she received her Bachelor of Social Work while working with troubled youth in juvenile detention facilities. Currently, Samantha is working on her application to receive her master’s degree from a California state university. She currently works for the San Diego Rescue Mission which is a nonprofit emergency shelter that serves thousands of men, women and children experiencing homelessness, hunger, and abuse. Everyday Samantha proudly uses the experiences of her life to encourage, empower, and motivate people that have lost hope in themselves and in society.
