At the time, Raquel was a mother to a young son, doing her best to keep moving forward. "I really didn't know how to feel. I was just going through life and hoping for the best, pretty much." She had goals—she wanted to get a better education, become more financially stable, and one day buy a house—but she didn't yet know how she would reach them.

Working with Gerardo changed that. He taught her things about money she'd never been shown before: how to dispute debt on her credit report, which secured credit cards could help her build her score, and good ways to save. He also walked her through the home-buying process step by step. "It was very beneficial. I never knew the things that he taught me. Any question I had, he would reach out and answer them."

With that knowledge, Raquel started checking off her goals one by one. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration while in the program. She watched her credit score climb from the 500s all the way up to 730. And in the final stretch of her time with Compass, she bought a house—with $20,000 in down payment assistance that made all the difference. Along the way, a member of the Compass team also connected her with someone who helped her polish her resume and apply for jobs, and she landed a new position that made her even more financially secure.

For Raquel, the credit work was an early turning point. "It put things into a different perspective—being able to purchase the things you need and have that stability." But owning her home is what means the most. "That was amazing to be able to move and be in your own place, and to set a foundation for the future."

She's already passing what she learned along to others. Some of her neighbors were enrolled in the same program but, as she puts it, weren't taking full advantage of it. So she shares her story with them, hoping it helps them the way it helped her. Her advice to anyone on the fence about joining? "It aids in a lot of growth as a person. You can learn a lot."

Congratulations, Raquel, on everything you've accomplished—your degree, your improved credit, and the home you've built for you and your son. The whole Compass team is cheering you on.