RNY Billboard Showcase 2019

Karen -- Cibola High School

Although it feels like I was a freshman only moments ago, I’ve grown tremendously during my time as a high school student. The time has almost come for my classmates and I to walk the line and start our new beginnings. As I reflect on my time at Cibola High School, I am so grateful for everything this school had to offer me because it better prepared me for my future education and career.

Although my life at home was dim and difficult for me, I wanted to take as many opportunities as I could to make my experience at Cibola the best. I joined numerous clubs and put in effort to actively partake in my school.  The most rewarding experiences however came from two organizations that will forever impact my life: Student Council and Future Farmers of America (FFA). Although both these clubs may seem very different, they both heavily focused on leadership. I attended numerous leadership conferences because of these two clubs that Cibola High School has to offer. Through student council I was able to attend the Region 6 Vision Conference, a national student council conference that influenced my growth. One of the most important things I learned here is that the best leaders lead to inspire others. Through FFA I was able to attend leadership conferences such as this year’s State Spring Conference where I competed in the Vet Science Career Development Event. By studying and working with a team, we were able to place second in the state. Whether it was learning about leadership or practicing leadership skills, these two clubs have better prepared me for my future education, career, and life.

The community of people I have encountered during my time at Cibola have positively impacted my life forever. Over the past four years I’ve had amazing teachers, coaches, advisors, administrators, peers, and counselors. One example of a great leader at Cibola High School would be retired Vice Principal Lisa  Domby. I’ve always admired her positive attitude and shining spirit which made our campus a happier place. She has inspired me to become a better and more spirited leader on campus. Cibola is made up of staff who not only serve as positive influences, but motivate students to become the best version of themselves. Throughout my senior year of high school, I’ve needed motivation in my life to reach my goals. My guidance counselor, Kari Lofton, was one of my biggest motivators this year. She has made me realize my self-worth and has given me the confidence I needed to apply for so many scholarships. Because of the many positive and motivating individuals within Cibola High School, I am better prepared to continue my education in order to achieve my dream of becoming a veterinarian.

It’s almost time for me to finish my time in high school and move onto the great things this school has prepared me to do. The next step in my education is to attend the University of Arizona to study Animal Science and minor in Pre-Veterinary Science. Because of my time at Cibola, I feel better prepared for my educational future. I am honored to represent the class of 2019, Cibola High School, and Yuma Union High School District.

Keven -- Gila Ridge High School

What can I say? High school has been one great experience. It is similar to a rollercoaster, sometimes you could be doing great, at the top, while at other times, you are trying to bring yourself to the top. Personally, these past four years at Gila Ridge High School has prepared me to pursue my education at a higher level in order to have a successful career and life. From being encouraged to take higher level classes, such as Advanced Placement classes, to just the occasional talk with teachers about grades. Past graduation, there will be no more constant reminders from our teachers, and it’ll be time for me and my fellow classmates to enter the real world and take our own steps.

As graduation approaches the next step after high school, for me, would be to attend Arizona Western College, where I want to complete my generals for my Associates Degree. Next, the plan is to transfer to an in-state university, where I can attain a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security. At this point in my life, I am truly excited for the very-soon future. Although it won’t be easy, it is nothing I can’t accomplish, as long as I make the right decisions.

First and foremost, I want to thank all of the staff at Gila Ridge that I have met, talked to or have had as teachers. There would be no other high school that I would rather have gone to. This was the high school for me, as well as for most of my fellow classmates for four years. Personally, I want to thank my counselor, Danny Marron, as he has guided me throughout my whole high school experience, giving me great advice on what classes to take, giving me options on what I could do, as well as getting me involved in taking college classes during high school. To my friends, I can’t thank you enough for your support. To my family, I could not have done it without you guys. Although I would think your advice was wrong, it always turned out to be the way you guys said it. Throughout these years, I have become a young adult who has learned that my parents are truly the best guidance, giving me all the support and love that I needed and need. For all of my classmates of 2019, it’s time to pave our way independently, make the best decisions possible to commence our future and reach our goals in life.

Leilani -- Kofa High School

I cultivated my dream to succeed from a young age.  My mother was a single mother who didn’t have an education. She went from job to job struggling to provide for me and my sister.  I witnessed my mother’s deep exhaustion from work and the strain from financial struggles my family went through for years. My mother always encouraged me and my sister to put effort into our schooling.  I took her advice to heart. I decided that I was going to create a better future for me and my family through education: the universal door of opportunity.

As long as I can remember, I did well in school.  But when high school came along, I felt that I needed to push myself harder to be ready for my next chapter: college.  Kofa High School provided me with the educational resources and extensive support I needed to accomplish this.

During my freshman year, I was encouraged to take an Advanced Placement class.  These classes were said to be challenging, but that the difficulty develops college-level skills.  I took the challenge. My first semester in an AP course proved strenuous as it was different from any class I took before.  However, it became easier as I developed better study habits, organization, and critical thinking. Additionally, my teacher was always available whenever I needed help.  When the AP exam day arrived, I felt ready. I would later learn that I passed the exam with a top score! The next three years I took more and more AP classes, each one easier with the skills I developed and with the aid of my teachers.  And it was through my AP Physics and Calculus classes where my interest in engineering was sparked. I now feel more college ready after taking my AP courses.

My extracurriculars, too, have proved essential in my academic journey.  I joined the chess team in freshman year. There, I found a family and learned the importance of constant practice and strong teamwork.  In the National Honor Society, we strove to follow the four pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. In Key club, I spent many hours volunteering with organizations like the Crossroads Mission, Salvation Army, the Sunrise Optimist Club, and more. I found a passion for helping others and giving back to my community.

Now my college chapter is fast approaching.  My high school years, filled with hard work and ambition, has accumulated into three letters I received in March: Harvard, Yale, and Columbia university acceptances.  It was tedious, but I poured my heart and soul into my applications; now I reached the stars. I have yet to make my decision, but I plan to study to become an Environmental Engineer.  

I want to thank my family, my community, and Kofa High School for this amazing journey.  With them, I was able to achieve my dream of opening a door to a brighter future.

Luis -- San Luis High School

In my family, I’m the youngest of 5 children, which is not a very pleasant situation when it comes to the acquisition of personal belongings. However, during my adolescence, I quickly realized that being the youngest wasn’t as bad as I had perceived it to be. Gradually, I interpreted and learned from the errors and slip-ups of my siblings, and when I was presented with an opportunity I was always prepared.

Currently, two of my siblings are finishing their masters at Northern Arizona University, which really sets high expectations for myself and my future. Fortunately, this is not an obstacle for me. Instead, I see it as a promising confrontation of the many aspects of life that hinder my overall advancement. I see an opportunity to overcome my own fears; such fears that sometimes paralyze and prevent people from the realization of what they’re truly capable of. This sense of challenge has had a tremendously positive impact on the way I regard my ambitions, as I am always focused on obtaining the best of every educational experience, but more so outside of a classroom environment when I observe how the professional world functions and direct it in beneficial ways. Constantly having in mind that one day I will be in a similar position is an incredibly encouraging prospect for me and especially for those around me.

Academically, I’m planning to attend Arizona State University to further my studies and have the resources and tools to grasp my full potential. Civil engineering is the career I will be pursuing, a very difficult field due to the emphasis on physics, calculus, chemistry, etc. Essentially, in my personal opinion, some of the hardest courses. However, with enough discipline and dedication, I’m sure I will overcome these constraints and obstacles. My goal is to complete my degree within 4 or 5 years with experience, ready to enter the workforce and apply myself to something bigger.  Subsequent to graduation, I plan to return to my hometown or San Luis, Arizona and work for the city. San Luis is a developing town with enormous potential for growth. It is a pleasant surprise to see how much it has grown over the past few years- spiritually and professionally. Working for the city will allow me to convey ideas from a point of view of a lifetime resident, maximizing my influence on the different ways the city thrives. There are a variety and culmination of problems that need attention in San Luis that I one day hope to help in alleviating, thus ensuring the welfare of a town characterized by durability, culture, and the struggle for a better life.

Rubi -- Vista High School

Throughout my high school years at Vista High School, I have taken classes that have prepared me for college and a future career. Financial algebra has efficiently prepared me with tax form skills using case scenarios based on real-life experiences. Along with learning about independent living such as the processes of purchasing a home and mortgage application procedures. The courses at VHS have prepared me to take the right path whenever choosing a job and thinking about my future goals.

My next step in education is to attend Arizona Western College in San Luis, Arizona. My plan is to complete my general education classes. After I complete my general studies, I want to focus my education in the area of Criminal Justice. In the meantime I’m willing to serve as a volunteer in any area that will help me with my future career. Moreover, my plans after high school also consist of obtaining a part-time job, if possible in the community where I reside.

My family and my 1-year-old daughter have been a motivation for me to complete high school. My grandparents who took custody of me when I was a baby, have pushed me to look for alternatives and succeed educationally. They take care of my daughter while I am at school, and they also support me financially to fulfill mine and my daughter’s needs.  On the other hand, my other motivation has been my daughter.

As a young adult it is definitely not easy to wake up early after being awake in the middle of the night. It is also not easy to get home and still have to cook, and watch over a child and then do homework late at night after she falls asleep. However, she has become my priority and my biggest motivation to become someone effective in this world. Although my educational path has not been easy, my goal is to graduate and give back to my family and daughter.

All my family has been a positive influence throughout my education. However, there is one special person who has pushed me an extra step and is also my role model. My aunt, Juanita Cabrera, is the first one in my family who has graduated from a university. She recently graduated with her Masters Degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. She is now a highly qualified teacher and has her own classroom. Knowing about her first experience in college, without having anyone to guide her, makes me feel fortunate to have her around.

My aunt has been a great resource when it comes to doing my homework, choosing a career, and learning to find resources. Furthermore, she has encouraged me to explore my interest that will help me choose the right career. Overall, she has prepared me with the necessary resources that will guide me in college such as financial aid, scholarships, and courses. After seeing my aunt succeed, I feel inspired to graduate from college and a university.

Anthony -- Yuma High School

High school has definitely made a huge impact on me. These last four years have played a significant role in making me the person I am today. I have learned the importance of social interactions, how to plan ahead and take the necessary steps to achieve my goals, and I have found my many motivating factors that essentially carried me throughout my high school experience. 

My high school experience consisted of social interactions and essential people skills. I was the host of an outside bible study group where I made friends with a lot of people. I was the associate editor-in-chief of the school newspaper which taught me how to effectively communicate with others. And I was in many clubs where I held a leadership position. This all taught me vital skills that I know will be crucial as I begin to pursue higher education at the University of Arizona. Being social and learning these skills has been very beneficial in high school so I can only imagine how it will continue to pay off in college.

My next step is to attend the University of Arizona where I will be majoring in physiology as a pre-med student, but that is only scratching the surface of what steps I wish to take. I want to join or even start a club, volunteer at hospitals and shelters, shadow physicians, and study abroad. I hope that this will all act as a huge stepping stone towards my acceptance at a top medical school. My dream is to become a trauma surgeon, so I will continue to take as many steps as needed to make that dream a reality.

Throughout my high school experience my parents, friends, and family have motivated me to achieve all of my goals. I have also met many teachers and staff members that have helped me stay in hot pursuit of my dreams. Quotes have never been a motivating factor since often I find them quite cringeworthy, but a quote from my favorite comedian, Joey Diaz, is engraved in my mind and serves as a constant form of motivation. “If you’re walking on thin ice you might as well dance.” It’s difficult for me to pinpoint one major thing that motivates me, but I am confident that all of these factors, big or small,  work in unison to motivate me.

All in all, high school has been an unforgettable time full of many lessons and experiences that I know I can look back on and appreciate. Although I have a long way to go until I reach my dream of becoming a doctor, I hope to carry with me the knowledge gained from social interactions, the lessons that every step I took came with, and most importantly I hope to never lose my motivation.