Fabiola

On May 10, 2018, my life changed. My grandmother was on her way to work in the fields when she was involved in a terrible car accident. My aunt, who was with her, survived thanks to an AED, but my grandmother didn’t make it. She was only 59. 

The loss devastated me and took a toll on my academics and mental health. But in time, I found strength in her memory. I knew I had to keep going—for her, for my family, and for my future. 

That moment inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare, where I could make a real difference during life’s most critical moments.

As the daughter of immigrant parents who speak only Spanish, I faced a language barrier early on. Spanish was my first language, and this led to a speech delay that placed me in both ELA and speech classes. I often felt behind and different from other students, but I pushed myself to succeed. 

Through hard work, I passed the required tests and was able to exit the program. This allowed me to take more challenging electives, dual-enrollment courses, and eventually Honors English. I’m proud of my heritage, proud to speak Spanish, and proud of how far I’ve come.

I am a proud first-generation student. This Fall, I will be starting at Mendocino College to earn an associate’s degree in Allied Health, then transferring to Santa Rosa Junior College to complete prerequisites for the Radiology Program. I’ll also gain hands-on experience at Santa Rosa Hospital as I prepare for a career in medical imaging.

Outside of school, I’ve always stepped up to support my family and community. I got my first job at Lakeport Rainbow Ag to help my sister through her senior year, and I serve as Head Tracker for K-CORPS, a local search and rescue team. I’m on call 24/7 to help find missing people, which has taught me discipline, leadership, and how to stay calm under pressure.

I’ve worked through grief, language challenges, and financial hardship to get to this point—and I carry all of those experiences with me as I move forward. This scholarship means more than support; it’s a vote of confidence in who I am and who I hope to become.