By Kathy Egorova

Diana Morris (not her real name) lives in a Bronx housing project. She describes her everyday life as juggling her family responsibilities and "studying, studying and more studying.'' 

Morris, 24, is an upper junior at Hunter College with a Grade Point Average of 3.0, and a double major in Sociology and Women's Studies. She is currently taking 12 credits and is a member of the Inter-Varsity Christian Club. After she graduates in Spring 2000, Morris wants to become a social worker, and help young kids from her neighborhood make the right choices in life. 

Morris derives her strength and determination from religion. 

"Being a practicing Christian gives me something to look forward to when I wake up every morning," she says. 

Morris spends much of her time in the college library. When not studying, she catches a moment of solitude away from the turmoil of her five bedroom apartment shared by Morris, her mother and Morris's six siblings. 

Diana's mother has been on public assistance since her youth. She still works long hours cleaning toilets and sweeping courthouses.

"It's up to us what we want to do with our lives. By working hard, my mother gives us the opportunity to get an education, something she never got," says Morris. She brightens up while speaking of her 18-year-old brother Tyrone, a former graduate of Smith High School, and the recent recipient of a New York University scholarship. He wants to major in physical education. 

"In life, you have to have a mentor, a role model, someone to help you along the way and that is what I want to be for others from my neighborhood," said Morris. 

She credits her own mentor back in Taft high school. Her guidance counselor took her and other students on tours of college campuses and encouraged Morris to pursue her college degree.

"As soon as I stepped my foot in Hunter -- I just had this revelation. I thought: This is it. This is where I want to be for the next four years," Morris says as her face lights up. 

Morris often studies in the campus library as late as 7:30 p.m. and sometimes on the weekends to avoid the noise and demands at home. Her mother leaves the apartment before dawn and Morris rises at 6:30 to take care of her siblings and the household chores. Morris is also responsible for tending her 5-year-old sister while her mother works. 

"Cooking and cleaning is my job now -- my mother is always working -- so I help out as much as I can, in my own way."