Asked To 'Dream,' Students Beat the Odds

By Meg Sommerfeld

NEW YORK CITY--In March 1985, a 15-year-old named David Nieves wrote:

"A man has just knocked on my door. When I go to open it he is standing there holding a key. He tell me that life has been good to him and it's time to share that good with others. He hands me the key and says, 'With this key, you must pick a door and open it so that your life can be as good as successful as mine was and is for me.'

"Then he start to tell me what's beyond the doors. He says, 'Behind those doors there are academic subjects; Remember you must pick one, that one is your future so study it well.' Then I start to think to myself, 'Why is he giving me this?' It was like he read my mind and answered my questions and prayers and said, 'You are the future and you must do what's right for...